France’s Eric Perrot took control of a hotly contested Hochfilzen Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit this afternoon in the first standing stage when rival and sprint winner Tommaso Giacomel of Italy missed one shot. At that point, Perrot pulled away, quickly cleaning the last stage and speeding to a 30:06.2 victory. Today’s win was Perrot’s first of the season and his first-ever World Cup pursuit victory.

“High level fight”

Perrot, who now has a victory in each individual discipline, enjoyed every minute of his tussle with Giacomel. “It was so good to be in the front with Tommy. We had a really high-level fight. I knew that on every shooting I had to clean because I know Tommy is really fast on the shooting range, also on the tracks. It was a real fight with myself to try to take all the targets. I am really happy I did.”

“Have to do it again and again”

The winner admitted one win is just a step on a long road over the whole season. “Of course it is a good for confidence. For me, it is more important to continue the work. It’s a really good win and I will enjoy it, but I know every time you have to do it again and again. It’s never easier. I know it’s going to be a hard fight all the races coming up.”

Giacomel finished second, with a single penalty, 10.2 seconds back. Yellow Bib Johan-Olav Botn of Norway finished third, also with one penalty, 29 seconds back.

Fourth went to Germany’s Philipp Horn, with one penalty, 47.8 seconds back. Norwegian teammates Johannes Dale-Skjevdal and Sturla Holm Laegreid, with one and two penalties, finished fifth and sixth, 1:00.7 and 1:07.7 back. Dale-Skjevdal, after three consecutive IBU Cup wins, jumped 11 places after a disappointing 16th in yesterday’s sprint.

Trio at the Front

Hochfilzen gave the competitors another spectacular sunny, windless day for the pursuit. Giacomel and Perrot cleaned the first prone simultaneously, with Horn just a couple of seconds behind. A group of three, including Yellow Bib Botn, trailed the leaders by 23 seconds.

The second prone was a carbon copy with the perfect shooting trio getting away in the same order. Botn cleaned his second stage, moving to within 19 seconds of the leaders.

Perrot and Giacomel pulled away in the loop before the first standing stage, but Giacomel missed a shot while Perrot cleaned, taking the lead. Giacomel came off the loop second, but 17 seconds back, with the 15-for-15 Yellow Bib on his shoulder.

Friends at the Finish

The young French star blew through the last standing stage, ensuring the win. Giacomel shot equally fast and clean, getting away 10 seconds before the also clean Botn. Nothing changed on the last loop. Perrot celebrated momentarily at the finish before embracing his friend and rival Giacomel after their stirring battle.

Photos: IBU/Walter, Nordic Focus