Biathlon: Oscar Lombardot wins the World Cup
Early on Sunday afternoon, Oscar Lombardot competed in the men’s biathlon World Cup relay in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic). Competing in this format for the second time in his career, two years after his first, the Doubiste native shone brightly.
After finishing tenth in the pursuit, the ES Saugette man confirmed his current fine form with a perfect shot in both the standing and prone events. “There was some apprehension, but also confidence after this week when the shoots are going pretty well, he told Nordic Magazine. I knew I had one thing to do: get through the shoots and fill up my tank. If that was the case, I knew it would be a great race and that I’d stay in touch with the best.”
Although it was windy on the shooting range when he switched to stand-up shooting, Oscar Lombardot played the elements perfectly. “I only released the bullets when I felt they were going to be good, he reveals. I fought hard on each of those five shots to make sure I didn’t miss any.”
“It’s been hard to get there
At the end of his run, the Franc-Comtois launched Fabien Claude to within 20 seconds of Norway. The Vosgien managed to catch up, before Quentin Fillon-Maillet beat Johannes Thingnes Boe on his feet to give Les Bleus victory.
“I was very stressed before the last shot and when I saw Quentin’s [Fillon-Maillet] shot, wow, I was in awe! To drop a shot like that in today’s conditions is just monstrous, especially against the GOAT (Greatest off all time, editor’s note) in biathlon. It was just brilliant,” enthuses Oscar Lombardot.
In doing so, the Pontissalier climbed onto the top step of a World Cup podium for the first time in his career. “During the race, I didn’t think about it, but it’s just incredible, the guys did a great job from A to Z! I don’t really realise yet that this is my first World Cup victory, he agrees. It’s crazy, it’s with my mates, it’s a relay… Being at the top of the box was pretty [crazy]!”
Finally, Oscar Lombardot didn’t fail to have a nice wink for Antonin Guigonnat’s daughter : “At the very start of the season, the aim was to get on the World Cup and take part in relays. That was achieved at the end of the winter, but it was hard work getting there. I really struggled and I’d like to say a big thank you to Lucie [Antonin Guigonnat’s daughter, editor’s note] for allowing me to come to the World Cup and do some great races at 100%.”
- The full programme for the Nove Mesto World Cup, the seventh stage of the 2024/2025 season
- Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Nove Mesto
- Sophie Chauveau and Oscar Lombardot selected: the French squad for the Nove Mesto World Cup
- “Hold on to third place overall”: after his world gold medal, Eric Perrot is back in action in the World Cup in Nove Mesto.
- Nove Mesto: the start list for the men’s sprint is changed because of the high temperatures… Eric Perrot number 1!
- Nove Mesto: Emilien Jacquelin marks his return to the limelight by winning the sprint
- Nove Mesto: on the sprint podium, Johannes Thingnes Boe comes within 10 points of Sturla Holm Lægreid in the overall standings, Emilien Jacquelin takes third place
- Emilien Jacquelin after winning the Nove Mesto sprint: “The break was good for moving on and moving forward”.
- “She wants to keep up the pressure”: in Nove Mesto and 92 points behind Franziska Preuss, Lou Jeanmonnot sets out to conquer the crystal globe.
- Nove Mesto: the start list for the women’s sprint has also been changed, with Jeanne Richard the first starter
- Nove Mesto: Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold dominates the sprint ahead of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot fourth
- “I wasn’t sure I could go on”: Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, winner in Nove Mesto, almost put an end to her career after suffering heart problems.
- Double podium for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot fourth, Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon placed: another incredible collective performance by the Bleues in Nove Mesto.
- Nove Mesto sprint: Lou Jeanmonnot closes the gap on Franziska Preuss in the overall standings with six races to go
- Nove Mesto: Jeanne Richard keeps her blue number for best U23
- “It’s not a bad race, but it’s not good for the overall result”: Franziska Preuss takes it on the chin after the sprint in Nove Mesto
- “It’s been a tough season so far? Fifth in the Nove Mesto sprint, Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser savours her return to the flowers
- Nove Mesto: with 20/20, Sebastian Samuelsson dominates the pursuit, Quentin Fillon-Maillet fourth
- “I’m going to enjoy this victory”: before the pursuit in Nove Mesto, Sebastian Samuelsson hadn’t won a World Cup race since December 2023.
- Nove Mesto: third in the pursuit, Johannes Thingnes Boe takes the yellow bib… for 5 points
- “It’s just incredible”: first World Cup top 10 for Oscar Lombardot, tenth in the pursuit in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: Julia Simon triumphs in the pursuit ahead of Hanna Oeberg and Océane Michelon, Lou Jeanmonnot again fourth
- “I have fewer distracting thoughts, I’m totally there”: how Julia Simon, winner of the Nove Mesto pursuit, explains her return to the top of the World Cup standings
- Nove Mesto: before Pokljuka, Lou Jeanmonnot moves back to within 36 points of Franziska Preuss in the overall standings
- “It’s very satisfying”: after her world medal, Océane Michelon takes her first World Cup podium in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: Jeanne Richard retains the blue bib of best U23… 2 lengths ahead of Océane Michelon
- “I finally feel like I’m where I want to be”: Hanna Oeberg made a fine comeback in the Nove Mesto pursuit
- “I don’t really know what to say”: Franziska Preuss can’t explain the three mistakes she made in the first leg of the pursuit in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: the day has arrived for the French men’s team to win its first relay globe since 2012
