Biathlon: two more IBU Cup podiums for Les Bleues
This Saturday, the second leg of the IBU Biathlon Cup 2024/2025, organised in Geilo (Norway), came to an end with the pursuit races. At the end of the morning, it was the women who opened the hostilities.
Well in the lead at the start of the race (more than 30 seconds ahead of her nearest rival) after her sprint triumph, Paula Botet from Bresse put everyone back in the game in the first downhill shot when she lost two bullets. It was then her compatriot Chloé Chevalier, number 4, who took the lead with a full run.
A few seconds behind her, Germany’s Marlene Fichtner was on the prowl. Although the Dauphinoise was faster, she made a mistake on the shooting range and the two biathletes battled it out to win the last standing. The 21-year-old German won the duel in the snow. With a score of 20/20, she won solo and claimed her first success on the IBU Cup circuit.
The six Frenchwomen in the top 15
At 18/20, Chloé Chevalier still managed a fine second place, while Paula Botet (16/20) managed to overtake Sweden’s Johanna Skottheim (18/20) to take third place and a fourth podium in the six races contested at the start of this winter. In doing so, she strengthened her lead in the overall rankings.
The flower ceremony was completed by Norway’s Marit Oeygard (17/20) and Siri Skar (17/20), while Voldiya Galmace-Paulin (17/20), seventh, and Camille Bened (17/20), eighth, took their places in the top 10. Fany Bertrand (16/20) finished fourteenth and Anaëlle Bondoux (17/20) fifteenth.
Full results
IBU Cup general ranking
- Geilo: Norway’s Martin Uldal wins the IBU Cup sprint ahead of two compatriots, Oscar Lombardot sixth and the flowers
- IBU Cup in Geilo: Bresse’s Paula Botet takes the sprint with a perfect shot
- Geilo: Isak Frey takes his third IBU Cup win in a row by winning the individual, Gaëtan Paturel sixth
- IBU Cup in Geilo: Camille Bened dominates the individual, Fany Bertrand third, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin fifth
- Camille Bened after winning the individual at the IBU Cup in Geilo: “Huge satisfaction”.
- The full programme for the IBU Cup in Geilo, the second leg of the 2024/2025 B circuit
- Firsts for Martin Botet, Axel Garnier and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin: the full French team selection for the IBU Cups in Idre Fjäll and Geilo
- Geilo: Marit Oeygard and Mats Oeverby win IBU Cup
- Geilo replaces the Sjusjøen stage in the IBU Cup
