Biathlon: “Winning the World Cup again feels really good,” says Julia Simon
It had been over a year since Julia Simon had triumphed on the biathlon World Cup circuit. Three-time world champion in the individual event and winner of several relays in between, the Beaufort native had still raised her arms. But, as she admits, it’s different on the World Cup.
So her success on Saturday afternoon in the pursuit at Nove Mesto (Czech Republic) had a special flavour. “It feels good, she said after the official ceremony during a video conference attended by Nordic Magazine. It’s not quite the same thing, because I think the World Championships are something completely different. Winning the World Cup again feels really good. The start of the season wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for, and now it’s a relief.”
To get to this point, Julia Simon had to solve a number of equations that had previously been complex for her in this winter of 2024/2025, which got off to a rocky start.
“I’m more able to concentrate and focus on myself. I have fewer distracting thoughts, I’m totally there, she admits, noting that this hasn’t necessarily always been the case in recent months. It’s paradoxical [that I’m winning now] because my skiing form isn’t the best, but I’m able to adapt without getting locked into a particular pattern.”
Tinnitus in the right ear
So it was that the Savoyard scored a life-saving 5/5 on the last pass over the shooting range to be the only one to get through the door opened by leader Lou Jeanmonnot.
“It would be pretentious to say that I manage these moments better than others, but today went well. I managed to channel my emotions really well by doing a good biathlon, she enthuses. When I got to the shooting range and heard Lou [Jeanmonnot] open the door after missing two shots, I knew it was going to be a great battle. I told myself I had no choice but to put the balls in the net! I did my biathlon, the one I produce all summer in training, and I put it together as best I could.”
A biathlon that hit the nail on the head, allowing Julia Simon to win solo. “I’m a competitor, so I want to win and prove to myself that I’m still up there with the best. The aim isn’t to spend hours and hours training for nothing, she says. Victory is always something special compared to a podium finish, there are the extra emotions.”
Especially as this success was achieved in the crazy atmosphere of Nove Mesto’s Vysocina Arena. “I love this venue because of the atmosphere. I still have tinnitus in my right ear because there are people everywhere on the edge of the track, all the time on our right,” she finishes with a smile.
- 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
