Biathlon: Florent Claude’s Belgium not far from the podium in the World Team Challenge
Late on Saturday afternoon, Florent Claude took part for the second year running in the World Team Challenge at the Biathlon auf Schalke in Gelsenkirchen (Germany). Teaming up for Belgium with Lotte Lie, the man from Basse-sur-le-Rupt (Vosges) finished an excellent fourth.
Up front, it was the Norwegians Karoline Knotten and Sturla Holm Lægreid who took victory. “In the mass-start, it was a bit tricky to get going and we started ninth in the pursuit [40 seconds off the lead, editor’s note],” he explained to Nordic Magazine.
It was in the second half of the competition that the Belgian duo put in a super run: Lotte Lie posted 20/20 while Florent Claude posted 19/20, missing just one ball on his final round. “It was a real pleasure! On the last shot in the middle of the two Germans, when we were going for the podium, there was a crazy noise in the stadium. It wasn’t easy to concentrate,” he recalls.
A unique atmosphere
Although he missed a target, Florent Claude still came out of the shooting range in third place. But Philipp Nawrath overtook him on the last lap and he had to settle for fourth place. “He’s the best German at the moment and, at the moment, he’s stronger than me, agreed the man from Bassur. I gave it my all on the track and managed to hold off [Jesper] Nelin for fourth place.”
“We had the best pursuit possible. It was a great team race”, Florent Claude summed up the German show, which finished just off the podium.
And once again, the atmosphere was just right : “When you walk into the stadium, it’s like a broth! For me, it’s the best atmosphere in biathlon. There’s Le Grand-Bornand, but it’s different again. Everyone’s there for you, you’re like a superstar with a fireworks display. It’s show plus plus plus and it’s incredible for an athlete. You’re in the gladiatorial arena!”
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