Biathlon: Julia Simon wins in Nove Mesto… where she became quadruple world champion a year ago
Julia Simon has a special relationship with Nove Mesto (Czech Republic). Crowned four-time world champion here in February 2024, La Beaufortaine feels right at home at the Vysocina Arena. Late on Saturday afternoon, in the pursuit of the seventh stage of the World Cup, she went on the offensive.
As the sun set over the Czech stadium, the customs officer from Villard-sur-Doron (Savoie) grew in confidence. In this electric race that she loves so much, she was finally able to take the spoils on the last pass over the shooting range. While Doubs-based Lou Jeanmonnot (18/20), alone in the lead, missed two targets, Julia Simon was the only one of the chasing pack to clear her five targets.
The victory, her first of the winter in a head-to-head competition, was thus a foregone conclusion and she was able to savour the final hectometres. ” I really enjoyed it and I was really excited to think that I’d finally managed to put together a really well-constructed race, so I’m really happy,” she told La Chaîne L’Equipe afterwards in the mixed zone.
First podium for Océane Michelon
On the podium, behind the queen of the day, were Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg (18/20), who came back from fourteenth place, and Océane Michelon (18/20). The Baujue, in her first full World Cup season, scored her very first podium on the circuit two weeks after winning a world medal in the mass start. Confirming her progress, the rider from Lescheraines (Savoie) got the better of fourth-placed Lou Jeanmonnot in the final hectometres to claim a fine podium finish.
Despite her legitimate disappointment, the Franc-Comtoise rider still clawed back points from Franziska Preuss (17/20), thirteenth on the day after a first run at 2/5. Before the last five races of the winter, 36 points separate the two contenders for the big crystal globe.
Selina Grotian (19/20) and Dorothea Wierer (19/20) completed the flower ceremony, while Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (16/20) was seventh, Jeanne Richard (19/20) ninth and Sophie Chauveau (15/20) thirty-fifth.
𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑷𝑷𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬𝑺!!! 🤩🇫🇷
Already victorious last year in Nove Mesto 🇨🇿, Julia Simon does it again by winning the women’s pursuit! 🥇🔥
And what a day it was for our Blues! Océane Michelon takes her very first World Cup podium with a superb 🥉e place…. pic.twitter.com/QNcyNEloRB– FFS – Fédération Française de Ski (@FedFranceSki) March 8, 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 has been 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
