Biathlon: France’s world champions stand out from the crowd
France is on top of the biathlon world. On Sunday afternoon, a few hours after the success of the boys in the last relay of the winter, the women also triumphed in the Vysocina Arena in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
Crowned world champions a fortnight ago, but unable to win any of the four events contested on the world circuit this season, Les Bleues managed to pull out all the stops this time. With the quartet of Lou Jeanmonnot, Océane Michelon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon, France stood out from the rest and put their biathlon to the test.
In the first two relays, the Doubiste and Savoyard women did not miss a single ball for the first time in their careers. As favourites and outclassed by their rivals, Les Bleues added a touch of style to their victory. Although Justine Braisaz-Bouchet missed three shots on the floor and one on the standing, the French lead remained unchanged.
A fourth relay globe in the bag
Julia Simon, tasked with finishing the job, didn’t crack in the slightest and handed France a fabulous victory. This success, combined with the Swedes’ sixth-place finish, gave Les Bleues the small globe for the fourth time after 2007, 2012 and 2023. A fitting reward for a group that has been crushing everything in its path.
On the podium, well behind France, were Norway(Karoline Knotten, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Ragnhild Femsteinevik, Maren Kirkeeide) and Germany(Johanna Puff, Julia Tannheimer, Sophia Schneider, Selina Grotian).
𝑳𝑬 𝑫𝑶𝑼𝑩𝑳𝑬 𝑫𝑶𝑼𝑩𝑳𝑬́ 𝑭𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑪̧𝑨𝑰𝑺!!!! ✌🏼🇫🇷
After the men, the women hit hard in Nove Mesto 🇨🇿 and scored a resounding victory in the relay, taking the Globe! 💎✨
First World Cup win of the season for our Bleues… and… pic.twitter.com/AOQ1YbGIFT– FFS – Fédération Française de Ski (@FedFranceSki) March 9, 2025
Full results
- 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
- Nove Mesto: with 20/20, Sebastian Samuelsson dominates the pursuit, Quentin Fillon-Maillet fourth
- “I’m going to enjoy this victory”: before the pursuit in Nove Mesto, Sebastian Samuelsson hadn’t won a World Cup race since December 2023.
- Nove Mesto: third in the pursuit, Johannes Thingnes Boe takes the yellow bib… for 5 points
- “It’s just incredible”: first World Cup top 10 for Oscar Lombardot, tenth in the pursuit in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: Julia Simon triumphs in the pursuit ahead of Hanna Oeberg and Océane Michelon, Lou Jeanmonnot again fourth
- “I have fewer distracting thoughts, I’m totally there”: how Julia Simon, winner of the Nove Mesto pursuit, explains her return to the top of the World Cup standings
- Nove Mesto: before Pokljuka, Lou Jeanmonnot moves back to within 36 points of Franziska Preuss in the overall standings
- “It’s very satisfying”: after her world medal, Océane Michelon takes her first World Cup podium in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: Jeanne Richard retains the blue bib of best U23… 2 lengths ahead of Océane Michelon
- “I finally feel like I’m where I want to be”: Hanna Oeberg made a fine comeback in the Nove Mesto pursuit
- “I don’t really know what to say”: Franziska Preuss can’t explain the three mistakes she made in the first leg of the pursuit in Nove Mesto
- Nove Mesto: the day has arrived for the French men’s team to win its first relay globe since 2012
