Biathlon: 30 years on, Les Bleues attempt to repeat as European relay champions
Run every year between 1994 and 2015, the gender relays had disappeared from the programme of the European Biathlon Championships since 2016. Replaced by the mixed relay and the mixed singles relay, they make their comeback this week in Martell-Val Martello (Italy).
For the Frenchwomen, it’s a real objective. Back in November, Camille Bened of Chablais explained in our columns that this race was “something to look forward to”. On the morning of this relay, with Sophie Chauveau, Gilonne Guigonnat and Amandine Mengin taking part, her aim will obviously be to win the title.
A gold medal, by the way, would not be a first for France, which already won the event in 1995 at Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) with the trio of Corinne Niogret, Florence Baverel and Anne Briand.
“We’re well aware that we’ll need to run four full races to do any good”
“It’s a real opportunity to have a gender relay at the European Championships this year, especially with the density of the French girls’ team, Camille Bened told Nordic Magazine. Despite that, it’s still a relay and we know full well that we’ll have to do four full races to do well.”
For the Haut-Savoyard from Chablais Nordic, the relay is a special event. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Camille Bened was crowned world junior champion in the speciality.
“It’s an important race and an exercise that’s close to my heart, she confirms. It’s the race where I’ve won the most medals and that I love the most. What’s also important is that it represents the strength of a team. It’s always nice for us and the staff to see that we have a complete squad capable of performing well.”
It’s up to Les Bleues to prove it once again this Sunday in Val Martello. If that were the case, and for a few days at least, the French women’s team would be world and European relay champions at the same time. Only Sophie Chauveau would then have taken part in both races.
- The full programme for the Martell-Val Martello European Championships, the sixth leg of the 2024/2025 IBU Cup
- IBU Cup: the French selection for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: the Italian selection for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: thirteen Austrians at the European Championships in Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: Germany with a strong showing at the European Championships in Martell-Val Martello
- IBU Cup: the impressive Norwegian squad for the European Championships at Martell-Val Martello
- Martell-Val Martello: Germany’s Johanna Puff individual European champion, Amandine Mengin fourth
- Martell-Val Martello: Isak Frey takes the individual continental title, Oscar Lombardot best Frenchman
- “I decided to stay cool before every shot”: Fredrik Muehlbacher, the surprise guest on the podium of the European Championships individual event
- Martell-Val Martello: Bresse’s Amandine Mengin finishes runner-up in the European sprint behind Sweden’s Anna-Karin Heijdenberg
- Amandine Mengin tells Nordic Magazine after her European silver medal in the sprint: “I still have the same problem, I don’t realise it!
- “It’s absolutely incredible”: the joy of Anna-Karin Heijdenberg, crowned European sprint champion at Martell-Val Martello
- “This track suits me perfectly”: bronze in the sprint at the European Championships, a bright spot in the season for Latvia’s Baiba Bendika
- Martell-Val Martello: Sivert Guttorm Bakken becomes European sprint champion ahead of Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Théo Guiraud-Poillot in the top 10
- “This victory means a lot”: European sprint champion at Martell-Val Martello, Sivert Guttorm Bakken savours his return to the summit
- Martell-Val Martello: Latvia’s Baiba Bendika crowned European pursuit champion, no medal for the French
- Martell-Val Martello European Championships: Patrick Braunhofer takes surprise gold in the pursuit, Oscar Lombardot sixth
- “I’ve finally achieved the shot I’m capable of”: how Patrick Braunhofer became the first Italian European champion by winning the pursuit at Martell-Val Martello
