Vittozzi Repels Challengers; Doubles Up with Pursuit Win

Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, going 19-for-20 on the range, repelled numerous challenges by French teammates Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon by outshooting her rivals to win the Canmore Women’s 10 km Pursuit in 28:15.9. After each of the first three shooting bouts, her French rivals skied back to challenge the Italian and each time Vittozzi left the range without a missed target while her pursuers went to the penalty loop. Today’s win gave Vittozzi the first sprint/pursuit double of her career her second pursuit in of the season. Most importantly the win vaulted her into the Yellow Bib, going into tomorrow’s season-closing mass start.

“I managed the pressure in the right way”

Besides gaining the Yellow Bib, Vittozzi, elated to hear that she won the World Cup Pursuit Score crystal globe for the first time, in addition to earlier claiming the World Cup Individual Score title, “Really, I didn’t know! It’s wonderful! It is amazing, back-to-back. I do not know what to say. I tried to stay focused on my work, even if I was al little bit nervous this morning. But I managed the pressure in the right way. I am really happy.”

“Let the girls do the work”

Regarding her strategy on the tracks, “I want to start a bit not too (fast). I knew that behind me there were strong girls, so I just wanted to let the girls do the work and I stayed behind. It was a nice race.”

On regaining the Yellow Bib, she added, “It is amazing, unbelievable. I am happy!”

French teammates second through fifth

Jeanmonnot, with three penalties, finished second for the second consecutive competition, 12.2 seconds back. Her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet used her ski speed to rebound from 19th position after the second prone, finishing third, with three penalties, 19.4 seconds back.

France added two more women in the Flower Ceremony. Julia Simon finished fourth, with three penalties, 1:03.2 back. Gilonne Guigonnat, with two penalties finished in a career-best fifth place, 1:07.6 back. Austria’s Anna Gandler matched her personal best and sprint finish in sixth place, 1:13.4 back with two penalties.

Spring-like Pursuit Day

Pursuit Saturday was spring-like: the temperature jumped to 8C, bringing out the short sleeves while the wind flags remained flat. By the 1 km split, Jeanmonnot and Lena Haecki-Gross were even with the sprint winner. Vittozzi shot slower but cleaned the first prone stage; her two rivals picked up penalties. Simon matched, moving to second, 11 seconds back. The leader came to the second prone10-seconds up, cleaned again. Simon shot fast, closing the gap to 5 seconds with Jeanmonnot 15 seconds back.

BMW IBU World Cup 9 Canmore Women's 10 km Pursuit

Vittozzi Seals Win

Simon, Vittozzi and Jeanmonnot shot together in the first standing. Vittozzi cleaned again; the French duo after penalties, remained second and third.

In the last standing, Vittozzi missed a shot; Simon, two and Jeanmonnot one, sealing the Italian’s win. Braisaz-Bouchet’s clean stage moved her to third, setting the podium.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni

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