Biathlon | Camille Bened, overall leader in the IBU Cup with two small globes already in her pocket, ahead of the season’s final straight : “We’re going to have to run some full races”

Biathlon: a decisive week ahead for Camille Bened

At the beginning of March, the 2024/2025 season of the IBU Cup biathlon circuit drew to a close in Otepää (Estonia). During the first of the two closing stages organised on the site of the 2027 World Championships, Camille Bened from the Chablais region put in some fine performances.

Ninth in the sprint, then second in the pursuit and third in the mass-start 60, she also won two small globes. Above all, the 24-year-old from Chablais took the overall lead, ahead of Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, with two races to go. Before the final straight of the winter season, which starts on Wednesday, Camille Bened agreed to talk to Nordic Magazine. Interview.

• You’ve just completed three IBU Cup races in four days in Otepää (Estonia). Before talking about overall rankings and globes, how would you sum up the results?

My week didn’t get off to the best of starts with an average sprint, like pretty much all my sprints over the winter… I don’t know why, but I just haven’t managed to find the key in the sprints this year. I was obviously a bit disappointed and above all frustrated, so the idea was to put things right for the races at the weekend. In the pursuit, I was really happy because I managed to build things up from start to finish, which enabled me to have a great race and make a good comeback. It might have been possible to catch Gilonne [Guigonnat], who started with a big lead, but I would have had to run the perfect race [she finished second, editor’s note].

• On Sunday, you finished third in the mass-start 60, an electric race…

In the mass start, there were actually a few more shooting errors because the standing shots were relatively difficult to tackle. The conditions weren’t easy with a track that was quite slow because of the heat. Inevitably, my legs were a bit heavier than usual and I was a bit shaky on the standing shots! I did what I could…

• Over the weekend, you took it in turns to lift the small globes in the pursuit and the mass-start. Are you able to make the most of this or are you still fully focused on the quest for the big globe, your goal for the winter?

To be honest, I’m trying not to focus too much on that at the moment because there are still races to go. But these two little globes are pretty special for me. It’s the reward for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years, and the consistency I’ve shown throughout the winter. Above all, it’s something that was close to my heart because the last two years have been relatively complicated for me. At the end of the season, for the last two winters, I was on the last stage of the IBU Cup and, each time, I watched the others go on to win their little globes. I’m glad it’s for me this time!

• Biathlon globes are legendary trophies. What do they mean to you?

A globe is always a highlight in a biathlete’s career. It means that over the winter as a whole, either in a discipline or overall, you’ve managed to be consistent at the front. Consistency is important if you want to progress to the next level, the World Cup.

• To return to the overall IBU Cup standings, you’ve taken the lead and have a 76-point advantage over Voldiya Galmace-Paulin with two races to go. Is it easy to handle the pressure?

It was complicated for a while, especially after my illness in January. But since the beginning of the week [last week], I’ve been able to stay calm and serene. I feel like I’ve found my biathlon again, especially since the mass start at Ridnaun-Val Ridanna. I’m going to do my biathlon and we’ll do the calculations on Friday evening!

• Especially as there are only individual races left, with no direct confrontations…

We’re going to have to do some full races and then we’ll see what happens. Whoever wins the globe, bravo to them! We already know that it will be in France and that’s good news given the current density of the girls’ fleet. The extra quota will be more than welcome.

• The full programme for the first IBU Cup in Otepää, the eighth stage of the 2024/2025 B circuit season
• A first for Antonin Delsol, Fany Bertrand returns: France unveils its first selection for the IBU Cup in Otepää
• Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Célia Henaff, Edgar Geny and Gaëtan Paturel complete the French squad for the IBU Cup in Otepää
• Otepää: second IBU Cup success of the winter for Gilonne Guigonnat, winner of the sprint
• IBU Cup Otepää: Isak Frey dominates the sprint ahead of Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Damien Levet top 10
• IBU Cup Otepää: two days after the sprint, Gilonne Guigonnat wins the pursuit ahead of Camille Bened, Paula Botet and Fany Bertrand with the flowers
• IBU Cup: Camille Bened wins the crystal globe in the pursuit, taking over from Océane Michelon
• Otepää: Johan-Olav Botn wins the last IBU Cup pursuit of the winter, Damien Levet and Théo Guiraud-Poillot in the top 10
• Isak Frey secures the big crystal globe at the 2024/2025 IBU Cup
• IBU Cup Otepää: the mass-start 60 for Kristyna Otcovska ahead of Paula Botet, Camille Bened, Gilonne Guigonnat and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin
• IBU Cup: Chablais’ Camille Bened lifts the crystal globe in the mass start
• Otepää Mass-start 60: first IBU Cup win in 7 years for Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Théo Guiraud-Poillot sixth behind the Norwegians