Biathlon : two more French women on the podium in Sweden
After a fantastic one-two finish on Thursday in the first event of the IBU Cup inIdre Fjäll (Sweden), the French biathletes once again took their place on the podium in the afternoon. Even though they didn’t win after being beaten by a rediscovered Ida Lien (10/10), the Tricolores still played the leading roles.
Paula Botet led the provisional rankings for a long time and thought she had won for the second time in just 48 hours. The Vosges-based skier, who only missed one run on the mats, set the fastest time of the event, relegating her to just twelve seconds behind Norway’s Ida Lien, who posted a clear round.
Leader of the overall ranking in the antechamber to the World Cup following her impressive victory in the first sprint, the French biathlete was also joined on the day’s podium by a compatriot. While Chloé Chevalier finished second on Thursday, this time it was Camille Bened who finished in the top 3.
With an excellent 10/10, the Chablais native also found a place in the IBU Cup box at the end of a successful competition in which she crossed the line just 20 seconds behind the winner.
Voldiya Galmace-Paulin takes another step closer to the top 20
Just 13 seconds behind the 24-year-old, another French rider made it into the top 5. Fifth in the finish area with a small fault in front of the targets, Chloé Chevalier followed up with another flower ceremony by finishing just behind Germany’s Anna Weidel (10/10) and ahead of Norway’s Siri Skar (9/10).
Voldiya Galmace-Paulin followed up her first top 20 finish on this circuit on Thursday with another fine performance. Despite making three mistakes behind the rifle, the Haut-Savoyard was once again able to rely on her speed on skis to claim twenty-third place in the final.
The biathlete from Méribel (Savoie), Fany Bertrand, was also at fault on three occasions, finishing in thirty-seventh place, while Anaëlle Bondoux from Isère, who struggled against the targets with five errors, had to be content with an anecdotal forty-fourth place.
The full rankings
The general ranking
- IBU Cup Idre Fjäll: Isak Frey dominates the second sprint of the week, Emilien Claude confirms his fifth place
- Sprint in Idre Fjäll: why won’t Paula Botet have the chance to wear the yellow bib as overall leader of the IBU Cup?
- IBU Cup Idre Fjäll: Sverre Dahlen Aspenes wins the first sprint of the winter, Antonin Guigonnat third ahead of Emilien Claude
- Idre Fjäll: with 10/10, Paula Botet and Chloé Chevalier crushed the opening sprint of the women’s IBU Cup with a double victory
- Voldiya Galmace-Paulin on her IBU Cup debut in Idre Fjäll: “A top 20 for my first race, I’m really happy, especially shooting 8/10”.
- The last two men’s World Cup places will be decided in the sprints at the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll
- Firsts for Martin Botet, Axel Garnier and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin: the full French team selection for the IBU Cups in Idre Fjäll and Geilo
- “I’ll have to be a natural to produce my biathlon at 100% of what I know how to do”: Oscar Lombardot prepares to stake his place in the World Cup at the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll
- Théo Guiraud-Poillot’s ambitions a few days before the start of the IBU Cup: “I’m not necessarily aiming for the World Cup at the start of the season, but…”.
- “I’m on the way up and in great shape”: the joy of Axel Garnier from Haut-Savoie, who has qualified for the IBU Cup for the first time.
- “There’s a chance I’ll qualify, but it’s also possible that I won’t make it through and my season won’t stop”: Emilien Claude’s state of mind ahead of the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll, where he’ll be playing for his place in the World Cup.
- “I know that my form will improve as the races go on”: sick in Bessans after her concussion, Anaëlle Bondoux remains confident ahead of the start of the IBU Cup
- Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, aged just 19, on her first IBU Cup selection: “It’s really good to discover a new circuit, it makes you want to do it”.
- “We get on very well”: Anaëlle Bondoux and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, the two French precociousness queens reunited at the IBU Cup
- Camille Bened, in fine form at the Bessans selection trials, tells Nordic Magazine: “I’m waiting to see if I can build on this over time to become very regular”.
