Biathlon: with two first places in Bessans, Camille Bened is back on the World Cup circuit
Since Saturday, the FFS biathlon selections have been in full swing on the snowfarm in Bessans (Savoie). While the events are suspended on Monday, a sprint and a mass-start have already taken place in Haute Maurienne Vanoise.
Before the final race scheduled for Tuesday – a second sprint – the battle for the three women’s World Cup tickets has already produced one lucky winner: Camille Bened. Winner of the scratch sprint and then first of the qualifying girls in the mass-start, the Chablais rider can no longer be overtaken by the competition.
Although this has yet to be made official by the French Ski Federation, Camille Bened will be accompanying Jeanne Richard, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Océane Michelon to Östersund (Sweden).
For the two remaining places, Gilonne Guigonnat, with a third and a second place, is currently the best placed. Amandine Mengin (second and fifth) and Paula Botet (fifth and third) are within touching distance of each other.
Finally, Sophie Chauveau (fourth and sixth) and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin (sixth and fourth) will need to put in a strong performance on Tuesday if they hope to start the winter in the World Cup.
Fany Bertrand and Célia Henaff have one foot in the IBU Cup
For the Women’s IBU Cup, there are once again three tickets up for grabs. For the moment, two girls stand out, with Fany Bertrand and Célia Henaff both taking first and second place among the qualifiers on the B circuit. Before the final race, they are well placed to make the trip to Obertilliach (Austria) in early December.
Behind them are Louise Roguet (third and fourth) and Camille Coupé (fourth and fifth), while Coralie Perrin (ninth and third), Maëla Correia (seventh and sixth) and Lisa Siberchicot (fifth and eighth) are also in the running.
Namou Candau-Armand, in sixth place, Léonie Jeannier, in eighth, and Lou-Anne Dupont Ballet-Baz, in seventh, will have to do very well in the final race if they hope to qualify. Finally, Lola Bugeaud (tenth and ninth) and Eva Laine (twice twelfth) are behind.
A fine operation for Damien Levet and Valentin Lejeune
The men’s race for the three places in the IBU Cup was just as exciting. Firstly, Bornandin’s Damien Levet (first and third) and Vosges’ Valentin Lejeune (twice second) were the weekend’s most consistent performers, taking a real step towards qualification.
Behind them, it’s a very close call, but Corentin Jacob (third and seventh), Mathieu Garcia (twice fifth) and Flavio Guy (sixth and ninth) are clearly in the match.
In addition, there are several biathletes with just one convincing result: Léo Carlier (first), Camille Grataloup-Manissolle (fourth), Edgar Geny (fourth), Judicaël Perrillat-Bottonet (sixth), Lionel Jouannaud (seventh), Alexis Colomban (eighth), Rémi Broutier (eighth) and Guillaume Poirot (ninth). They all need to put in a top performance in Tuesday’s sprint.
Finally, Antonin Delsol, Nathanaël Peaquin, Antonin Guy, Benjamin de Grimaudet de Rochebouët, Axel Garnier, Enzo Bouillet, Ilann Dupont, Clément Pirès, Martin Botet, Adrien Baylac and Cyprien Mermillod-Blardet have already been eliminated.
- Two sprints and a mass-start in four days: the full programme for the FFS selections in Bessans
- The full list of biathletes invited to take part in the FFS selections in Bessans on 15, 16 and 18 November
- Camille Bened, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Paula Botet, Gilonne Guigonnat, Amandine Mengin and Sophie Chauveau: they will be fighting for two World Cup tickets in Bessans.
- “Three girls will each be able to take a place”: Julia Simon’s suspension frees up another ticket for the Östersund World Cup
- Seven pre-qualifiers, five places up for grabs: there won’t be many tickets up for grabs for the IBU Cup at the selections in Bessans from 15 to 18 November.
- “She’s slightly ill”: Lou Jeanmonnot won’t be taking part in the weekend’s FFS selection races in Bessans
- Three tickets for the World Cup, six for the IBU Cup: all the stakes for the FFS selections in Bessans
- Bessans: Bornandin Damien Levet wins the first FFS selection sprint, Valentin Lejeune and Corentin Jacob on the podium
- Sélections FFS de Bessans: the first sprint for Camille Bened, Amandine Mengin and Gilonne Guigonnat follow
- Sélections FFS de Bessans: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet wins the mass-start in the finish ahead of Océane Michelon, Camille Bened first of the World Cup qualifiers
- Bessans: the men’s mass-start of the FFS selections for Léo Carlier, untouchable at 20/20
