Biathlon : a benchmark race for Julia Simon
Julia Simon had not been invited to the flower ceremony of an individual biathlon World Cup race since 22 December. Having struggled in the German stages of Oberhof and Ruhdpoling, the Frenchwoman arrived in Antholz (Italy) determined to reverse the trend.
She was at her best from the prone shot, where she didn’t hesitate to shoot 5/5, but then had a few scares on her standing shot. Having been troubled for some time during the standing passage, the Beaufortaine did not fall back into her old demons.
Despite making a mistake, the French biathlete bounced back to score a fine 9/10 after more than 28 seconds of battle. “It was a long battle. My legs were shaking and I felt a bit fragile. I got there and my leg slipped,” she told La Chaîne L’Équipe. I said to myself: “OK, Julia, get yourself together”. Behind the ball, I can’t build up because I’m coming in too hard and I picked up my first ball.
Fifth in the final rankings in this first competition of the week, the Villaraine found her bearings again in this final stage of the season before the crucial world championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). “Today, I really had the acuity and the ability to be extremely demanding. As soon as I warmed up, I felt good mentally and in my element. It’s not perfection, but it feels like it, because I know how to pick myself up and go for a good race,” she enthuses. I’m delighted to be back in the flower ceremony.
Also back in form on the skis with the ninth fastest time of the day, 24 seconds behind Anamarija Lampic, Julia Simon took a big step forward after some physically and mentally gruelling races in Thuring and on the Chiemgau Arena. “Today I found myself again. It’s difficult to know how you feel because you always have to push your skis here and it’s quite long. When I crossed the line, I didn’t really know what to think,” she admits. In the end, I think it was the best race of my season so far. I can be happy and that reassures me.
“There will be a great battle in the pursuit”.Julia Simon on La Chaîne L’Équipe
Just over 20 seconds off the podium at the end of the sprint, the multi-world medallist will be keen to do well in the pursuit, a discipline she is particularly fond of: “There will be a great battle in the pursuit. Lou [Jeanmonnot] was once again very strong. Franziska [Preuss] is also there and the two of them are having a magnificent duel. Even if we’re behind, it’s fun to follow [Laughs]”, she admits.
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