Biathlon: Fabien Claude back on the World Cup podium
Last December, Vosgien Fabien Claude relished the opportunity to stand on an individual biathlon World Cup podium… 1,463 days after his last, on 10 December 2020. An eternity later, the man from Bassur came third in the sprint at Hochfilzen (Austria).
A top 3 finish rewarding the efforts made during the summer preparations.
The season before, he had done some very, very good pursuits and the focus was on doing better in the sprints so as to be able to exploit the great things he was able to achieve in the pursuit,” his coach Simon Fourcade told Nordic Magazine. We managed to raise his level in the sprints and that’s a great satisfaction because that’s the toughest format. When you manage to get on the podium in a sprint, you show that you’re capable of the best that biathlon has to offer.
World relay vice-champion
On the other hand,” regrets the Villardien, ” he didn’t manage to repeat the great things he had achieved in the pursuit in previous winters.
Simon Fourcade analyses things as follows: “Up until now, he’s been a hunter, forging ahead without having too much to gain or lose. This time, he had a little more to lose,” says the French coach. So there will be some psychological aspects to work on so that we can make the most of the great improvement he has had this season in the sprints.
In January, Fabien Claude also shone in this speciality, finishing second in Oberhof (Germany) on the same day that Quentin Fillon-Maillet won and Emilien Jacquelin came third.
In addition, the Vosgien won the world silver medal in the relay and played an active role in winning the relay and nations cup globes.
- Simon Fourcade talks to Nordic Magazine about Les Bleus’ winter: “I never thought we’d have a season like this”.
- Julia Simon’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Cyril Burdet: “Her ability to bounce back and cope with difficulty is incredible”.
- Eric Perrot’s 2024/2025 season as seen by Simon Fourcade: “He’s really a very mature person, and he’s continuing to chart his course”.
- Cyril Burdet on Océane Michelon’s 2024/2025 season: “She’s undoubtedly the revelation of the winter”.
- Simon Fourcade’s view of Emilien Jacquelin’s 2024/2025 season: “This is the third year in a row that he has struggled to achieve at the World Championships”.
- Cyril Burdet on Justine Braisaz-Bouchet’s 2024/2025 season: “What I remember is her ability to be there on D-Day for a major championship”.
