France’s Lou Jeanmonnot delighted the packed Sylvie Becaert Stadium this afternoon with a runaway victory in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women’s 10 km Pursuit. The local hero took control with a clean first prone, going unchallenged to a 27:58.8 victory. Jeanmonnot’s single penalty victory was her first in a home World Cup and her second win of the season after taking the Hochfilzen Sprint last week. One final superlative completed Jeanmonnot’s big day: she will wear the Yellow Bib in Sunday’s Mass Start.

“I am really proud”

Jeanmonnot, only the second French woman to win here after Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, was quite proud of her first World Cup win on home soil. “It is really nice. I really wanted it. It feels like a special place for me here. I am really proud to prove to myself that I was able to do it here. It was a nice race. I am really happy.”

“Strange how loud it is”

As for the support of roaring, almost deafening crowds, she added, “It gave me extra power for sure. It is sometimes strange how loud it is in your ear on the first uphill. It’s crazy and really helped me during shooting, because it gets me to do better and better.”

Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen shot clean in second place for her third podium of the new season, 30.2 seconds back. Italy’s Dorothea Wierer, with one penalty finished third, 32.7 seconds back.

Jeanmonnot’s teammate Julia Simon, with one penalty finished in a season-best fourth, 35 seconds back. Paulina Batovska-Fialkova, with two penalties, finished fifth, 35.5 seconds back and Wierer’s teammate Lisa Vittozzi, also with two penalties, finished sixth, 42 seconds back.

Warm, Windless Pursuit

Another warm, windless afternoon with slow tracks set the stage for the final pursuit before the Christmas break. Sprint winner Hanna Oeberg led into the first prone stage, but picked up a penalty while Jeanmonnot cleaned, taking the lead. Wierer was also perfect, going out just behind Hanna in third, over 14 seconds back.

Jeanmonnot easily cleaned the second prone as did Hanna and Wierer, with the Swede trailing by 12 seconds and Wierer another dozen back.

The first standing stage went exactly as the two previous stages for Jeanmonnot; the 5 targets closed easily. Hanna had two penalties, and Wierer one, with the perfect Minkkinen going out second, 39 seconds back, 20 seconds up on Hanna and Wierer.

Finish Line Bow to the French Fans

One shooting error did nothing to stop Jeanmonnot, leaving the penalty loop, 25 seconds up on Minkkinen with Wierer and third after both cleaned the final stage. The last loop was all Jeanmonnot. She crossed the finish line with a huge bow to the boisterous French fans who supported her so vocally all afternoon, with the Finn and Italian following.

Photos: IBU/Mobuchon, Manzoni, Nordic Focus