Biathlon: Marthe Kraakstad Johansen’s first World Cup mass start
After learning of her participation in the mass-start of the biathlon world cup in Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) just a few hours before the start following Lisa Vittozzi‘s withdrawal, Norway’s Marthe Kraakstad Johansen was no pushover .
With number 30 on her shoulders, the Norwegian was taking part in her first World Cup mass-start, and she made the most of her opportunity on Sunday, takingtwelfth place after having been in contention for victory for a long time.
“I was delighted to hear the news and ready to race as soon as I found out,” she smiled after the finish to Nordic Magazine. In front of a dense and noisy crowd, the 26-year-old biathlete enjoyed herself: “It’s great to be in the middle of this crowd, it’s immense.
Arriving on the last shot in fifth place with 15/15, she could have gone for victory with a clear round, but she made a mistake. ” I made three very good shots, then I made a mistake at the last moment”, she explained lucidly. One ball too many, a penalty loop and the battle for victory was over. Despite everything, the Scandinavian prefers to retain the positive: “I’m very happy with my race.
This successful mass-start confirmed an already very strong momentum. The day before, Marthe Kraakstad Johansen had put in a benchmark performance in the pursuit, climbing 24 places – from 39th to 15th – thanks to a perfect shot and the fourth fastest time of the race.
Physically, the Norwegian feels she’s in an upward phase. “The sprint [on Thursday] wasn’t great, but I felt good afterwards. I think I felt even better today”, she confided.
Looking ahead, Marthe Kraakstad Johansen is ambitious, but without undue pressure. ” I hope to do well in the World Cup and maybe take part in the Olympics,” she says, already looking ahead to what’s to come.
Read also
- The full programme for the Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand World Cup, third leg of the 2025/2026 season
- Caroline Colombo: my best memory of… Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand
- Paula Botet and Valentin Lejeune selected, Jeanne Richard only on the mass-start: the French team selection for the Grand-Bornand World Cup
- Paula Botet and Valentin Lejeune rise in the Grand-Bornand, Emilien Claude and Jeanne Richard are downgraded: Stéphane Bouthiaux, head of the French biathlon, explains the situation
- Grand-Bornand 2025 World Cup: the teams and stars who will be rocking Le Grand-Bornand this week
- Le Grand-Bornand: first home podium for Lou Jeanmonnot, second in the sprint behind Hanna Oeberg
- “It’s the first time I’ve managed a Grand-Bornand”: never before on the podium in the Aravis, how Lou Jeanmonnot managed to finish second in the sprint.
- “The level of the race was incredible”: Cyril Burdet talks to Nordic Magazine about the French sprinters’ performance in Grand-Bornand.
- Le Grand-Bornand: Emilien Jacquelin magnificent third in the sprint won by Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen ahead of Johannes Dale-Skjevdal
- What showman Emilien Jacquelin had to say after finishing third in the Grand-Bornand sprint: “I’ve rediscovered the very essence of why I do sport”.
- “I never imagined we’d do so well”: Siegfried Mazet talks to Nordic Magazine about the Norwegians’ fine group sprint performance at Le Grand-Bornand.
- Le Grand-Bornand: Lou Jeanmonnot triumphs in the pursuit, Julia Simon returns to the flower ceremony
- Le Grand-Bornand: Lou Jeanmonnot wears the yellow number in the mass start
- “It’s not an end in itself”: Lou Jeanmonnot on his first win at Le Grand-Bornand
- Le Grand-Bornand: 21st overall after the pursuit, Jeanne Richard will be at the start of Sunday’s mass-start race
- Le Grand-Bornand: Johan-Olav Botn wins the pursuit ahead of Emilien Jacquelin and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Eric Perrot fourth
- “I see it’s clear on the right, so I sneak in”: the moment when Emilien Jacquelin got away from Eric Perrot to take second place in the Grand-Bornand pursuit.
- Fourth in the pursuit at Le Grand-Bornand, Eric Perrot made a “heartfelt” decision in the final package.
- Biathlon | “I’m really pleased”: more than two years later, Simon Eder savours his return to the top 10 in the pursuit at Le Grand-Bornand
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: suffering from a physical ailment, Suvi Minkkinen “concentrated on the shooting range” to take second place in the pursuit
- Biathlon | “We’re going to have to grit our teeth”: first mass-start day in Le Grand-Bornand for Chablais’ Camille Bened
- Biathlon | “I enjoyed the party”: after a disappointing sprint, Océane Michelon had a smile on her face in the pursuit at Le Grand-Bornand
- Biathlon | In the footsteps of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet: triumphant in the pursuit, Lou Jeanmonnot became the second French woman to win at Le Grand-Bornand
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: Lisa Vittozzi withdraws from the mass start with a cold
- Biathlon: After Le Grand-Bornand, Franziska Preuss eligible to represent Germany at the Winter Olympics
- Biathlon | “There was really something better to do with this finish”: second in the mass-start at Le Grand-Bornand, Lou Jeanmonnot has a touch of regret
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: Maren Kirkeeide wins the mass-start sprint ahead of Lou Jeanmonnot and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, fourth place for Camille Benedicte
- Biathlon | “I really need to improve my last-lap strategies”: Justine Braisaz-Bouchet’s assessment after finishing third in the mass-start at Le Grand-Bornand
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: Tommaso Giacomel wins the mass-start, Eric Perrot superb second at 20/20
- Biathlon: 67,000 spectators attend the 2025 World Cup in Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: Eric Perrot and Paul Seixas meet after the Peiserot finished second in the mass start
- Biathlon | “To win here is truly exceptional”: Tommaso Giacomel, buoyed by the love of the French public in the mass start
- Biathlon | Le Grand-Bornand: “It’s a bit frustrating to miss out on the podium by so little”, admits Germany’s Justus Strelow
- Biathlon | Eric Perrot, a podium finish in the Grand-Bornand mass-start gives you ideas: “Now I want to hit the ground running a bit harder”.
