Lou Jeanmonnot missed her first standing shot, but hit the next five, sealing the 1:11:17.9 French victory in this afternoon’s season-opening Oestersund Women’s 4 X 6 km Relay. The winning foursome of Jeanmonnot, Jeanne Richard, Oceane Michelon, and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet used just eight spare rounds on a breezy day.

Victory, “the best way to get confidence”

Jeanmonnot was pleased to take the win, confirming that the summer training went well. “It is really difficult to start the season because you really do not know where you are or how the preparation went. Starting this way with a win is the best way to get confidence.”

“Lot of pressure”

As for her shooting, the French anchor added, “I felt a lot of pressure. My prone shooting was not so good the last months, so I was a bit afraid of it today. I was happy to do a clean shoot. Standing shooting was quite a mess; starting with a spare bullet is a good way to keep calm, the most important thing during shooting.”

Italy finished second, with a penalty and nine spares, 13.8 seconds back. Czechia, matched France with eight spares in third, 30.8 seconds back, marking a successful return to competition for anchor Marketa Davidova.

Sweden, after falling as far back as 18th rallied for fourth after a strong anchor by Hanna Oeberg, with two penalties and ten spares, 45.5 seconds back. Austria with a penalty and six spares finished fifth, 1:31.8 back. Finland had the best shooting of the day with a single spare, in sixth, 2:09.2 back.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus