First race and first gold medal for Norway in the mixed relay of the biathlon world championships this Wednesday, February 8
For the first race of the world championships, Norway was ruthless! Despite a very delicate start to the race with the women, the Norwegians won the gold medal in the mixed relay thanks to the spectacular passages of Stuart Lagreid and especially the leader of the World Cup, Johannes Boe. Neck and neck with France during the passage of the last stint, the Norwegian very quickly took off on skis and turned his back on the shots. With three pickaxes on the recumbent, just like Quentin Fillon MailletJohannes Boe opened the door to Italy before finally taking the upper hand on the last lap of the race.
Considered as an outsider in the race, the French team respected its status. Thanks to Julia Simon, Anaïs Chevalier Bouchet, Simon Jacquelin, the Blues were leading the mixed relay. But with three picks on the first shot and a slower ski than last year, Quentin Fillon Maillet could not compete with Norway and Italy, but still won a very nice bronze medal thanks to a very good standing shot.
The program of the worlds in Oberhof
- Friday, February 10: 7.5 km sprint ladies, 2.30 p.m.
- Saturday February 11: men’s 10 km sprint; 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday February 12: Women’s 10 km pursuit, 1:25 p.m. and men’s 12.5 km pursuit, 3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 14: individual 20 km men, 2.30 p.m.
- Wednesday February 15: individual 15 km ladies, 2.30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 16: single mixed relay, 3:10 p.m.
- Saturday February 18: 4*7.5km men’s relay, 11.45am and 4*6km women’s relay, 3pm
- Sunday February 19: mass start 15 km men, 12.30 p.m. and mass start 12.5 km women, 3.15 p.m.
Mixed relay: Norway, Italy, France
What is the French selection at Oberhof?
The French biathlon team has selected 12 biathletes for these Oberhof worlds who will be led by Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Julia Simon.
France women’s team
- Julia Simon
- Anais Chevalier-Bouchet
- Caroline Colombo
- Lou Jeanmonnot
- Sophie Chauveau
- Chloe Chevalier
France men’s team
- Emilien Jacquelin
- Quentin Fillon Maillet
- Fabien-Claude
- Antonin Guigonnat
- Eric Perrot
- Oscar Lombardot
Quentin Fillon Maillet
By winning 5 Olympic medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022, Quentin Fillon-Maillet had dazzled the world of sport and biathlon. Times are however more difficult and the harvest is less important than in China. The Jura player is currently in 4th place in the World Cup with 483 points behind the Norwegian triplet Boe, Laegreid and Christiansen. The Frenchman has so far only made one individual podium during the pursuit of Pokljuka (Slovenia) on January 7th.
Julia Simon at the top of the ranking
Julia Simon tops the 2022-2023 Women’s World Cup standings with 811 points. To date, she has: 3 individual victories, 9 individual podiums and is ahead of her direct competitor Elvira Oeberg by 141 points. At 26, with a gold medal in the world championships in the single mixed relay in Pokljuka, the Savoyard has upset the hierarchy and could afford the best title of her career on March 19.
What TV broadcast?
The biathlon worlds can be followed live on the channels of the L’Equipe channel and on the Eurosport platforms (Eurosport 2 and Eurosport.fr.