Biathlon: Oscar Lombardot in the top 10 of the World Cup
ES Saugette biathlete Oscar Lombardot achieved his best-ever World Cup result on Saturday afternoon. Having never finished higher than sixteenth until then, the 24-year-old from Doubs finished tenth in the pursuit at Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
“After the desert crossing at the start of the season, to make a top 10 in the World Cup is just incredible”, he told FFS TV after his performance, which was celebrated as a victory. It has to be said that, at the end of December, Oscar Lombardot had to undergo botulic acid injections after suffering from a debilitating compartment syndrome.
“It’s a pain that’s quite complicated to explain, but it compresses the tibia, it’s difficult to lift the skis and then very complicated to walk at the end of the races, he admitted to Nordic Magazine at the time. This syndrome has reared its head since the start of the winter and has really bothered me in all my races. […] I’m taking it easy and I hope to be back as soon as possible.”
A storming end to the season
Back competing on the IBU Cup circuit in January, Oscar Lombardot scored several top 10 finishes and two flower ceremonies. Enough to allow the staff to retain him as second reserve at the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) and then as sixth man at the Czech World Cup.
Signing his return to the most prestigious of circuits this week, the Pontissalier with the thin moustache seems to have passed several milestones in one go. Eighteenth on Thursday in the sprint, he finished tenth this Saturday afternoon under the Czech sun.
“I had to pass my shots little by little. In skiing, I’m not necessarily where I’ve been [in the past] since the start of the season, but it’s biathlon and to manage a good 19/20 by building things up is just incredible,” he enthuses.
- The full programme for the Nove Mesto World Cup, the seventh stage of the 2024/2025 season
- Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Nove Mesto
- Sophie Chauveau and Oscar Lombardot selected: the French squad for the Nove Mesto World Cup
- “Hold on to third place overall”: after his world gold medal, Eric Perrot is back in action in the World Cup in Nove Mesto.
- Nove Mesto: the start list for the men’s sprint is changed because of the high temperatures… Eric Perrot number 1!
- Nove Mesto: Emilien Jacquelin marks his return to the limelight by winning the sprint
- Nove Mesto: on the sprint podium, Johannes Thingnes Boe comes within 10 points of Sturla Holm Lægreid in the overall standings, Emilien Jacquelin takes third place
- Emilien Jacquelin after winning the Nove Mesto sprint: “The break was good for moving on and moving forward”.
- “She wants to keep up the pressure”: in Nove Mesto and 92 points behind Franziska Preuss, Lou Jeanmonnot sets out to conquer the crystal globe.
- Nove Mesto: the start list for the women’s sprint has also been changed, with Jeanne Richard the first starter
- Nove Mesto: Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold dominates the sprint ahead of Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot fourth
- “I wasn’t sure I could go on”: Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, winner in Nove Mesto, almost put an end to her career after suffering heart problems.
- Double podium for Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot fourth, Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon placed: another incredible collective performance by the Bleues in Nove Mesto.
- Nove Mesto sprint: Lou Jeanmonnot closes the gap on Franziska Preuss in the overall standings with six races to go
- Nove Mesto: Jeanne Richard keeps her blue number for best U23
- “It’s not a bad race, but it’s not good for the overall result”: Franziska Preuss takes it on the chin after the sprint in Nove Mesto
- “It’s been a tough season so far? Fifth in the Nove Mesto sprint, Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser savours her return to the flowers
