Biathlon: Les Bleus go for the relay crystal globe
Since it was introduced in the 2000/2001 season, the men’s biathlon World Cup relay small globe has only been won once by France. That was in the winter of 2011/2012.
That year, Vincent Jay, Simon Fourcade, Alexis Bœuf, Martin Fourcade and Jean-Guillaume Béatrix took part in the four events organised in Hochfilzen (Austria), Oberhof (Germany), Antholz (Italy) and Ruhpolding (Germany).
With one victory, the French won the precious trophy by amassing 198 points, 8 more than Norway. The Norwegians, incidentally, have lifted the crystal globe in the relay on fifteen occasions… and remain on an impressive run of seven wins in a row.
This year, however, it will be heading to France for the first time in 13 years. Having won the first four relays of the season in Kontiolahti (Finland), Hochfilzen, Ruhpolding and Antholz, Les Bleus (360 points) can no longer be overtaken by the Norwegians (280).
Emilien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot took part in the conquest of this globe.
With only 21 teams at the start this Sunday in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic) for the final relay of the winter, the Scandinavians will only be able to take a maximum of 70 points from the French. The only thing that could prevent France from taking the title is an unlikely disqualification… combined with a Norwegian victory.
So, barring a huge catastrophe, Emilien Claude, Quentin Fillon-Maillet, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin and Eric Perrot will in a few hours’ time enable France to win the small globe in the relay for the second time in its history.
Current men’s relay World Cup rankings
- 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
