Biathlon: end of the Idre Fjäll stage this Sunday with the first pursuits of the winter
After two sprints on Thursday and Saturday, the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll (Sweden) closes on Sunday with pursuits. These first head-to-head events on the world biathlon B circuit will be very interesting to follow, starting with the men’s race at 11.00am.
The Norwegians will start in the lead, with Isak Frey 18 seconds ahead of Johan-Olav Botn and 33 ahead of Martin Uldal. Emilien Claude and Antonin Guigonnat, who have World Cup commitments and are fifth and tenth respectively on the start list, will be absent from this race. Oscar Lombardot will start eleventh at 1 min 27, Axel Garnier thirteenth at 1 min 41, Gaëtan Paturel twenty-second at 2 min 30 and Théo Guiraud-Poillot twenty-seventh at 2 min 39.
Then, on the women’s side, Ida Lien will be the first to cross the starting gate at 13:45. Paula Botet will be second at 12 seconds, Camille Bened third at 20 seconds, Chloé Chevalier fifth at 33 seconds, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin twenty-third at 2 min 24, Fany Bertrand thirty-seventh at 2 min 58 and Anaëlle Bondoux forty-fourth at 3 min 20.
The complete start lists
Men – 11h00
Ladies – 1.45pm
- 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 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”.
