Biathlon: World Cup comeback for Paula Botet
The knife has fallen for Sophie Chauveau. On a knife-edge in mid-December after a difficult first stage of the Biathlon World Cup, the native of Haut-Savoie put in the right performance at the right time in Hochfilzen (Austria) to secure her ticket for the races in Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie), in her own backyard.
However, in front of her friends and family, Sophie Chauveau – forty-second, thirty-first and twenty-first – didn’t shine. So on Monday, the bad news arrived as the Montblanc native had to give up her place to Paula Botet, current leader of the IBU Cup circuit, for the World Cup in Oberhof (Germany).
“Given Paula Botet’s level of performance throughout the early part of the season, she completely deserves to move up to the World Cup, Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, told Nordic Magazine. Someone had to come down, of course, and Sophie [Chauveau] is the lowest-ranked in the overall rankings.”
The IBU Cup for Sophie Chauveau, a first since February 2023
Twenty-fifth in the hierarchy, the reigning world relay champion is a long way behindOcéane Michelon, twelfth, and Jeanne Richard, eighth. “Of course, she had a podium finish and a great race in Hochfilzen, but she wasn’t at her best in the rest of the races, agrees Stéphane Bouthiaux. We made the difficult and painful decision to drop her.”
Sophie Chauveau will be returning to the IBU Cup in a few days’ time in Arber (Germany). A first since February 2023.
The French selection for the Oberhof Biathlon World Cup 🇩🇪
Ladies
- Justine Braisaz-Bouchet – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Paula Botet – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Lou Jeanmonnot – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / Olympic Mont d’Or (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Océane Michelon – Bauges Ski Nordique (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Jeanne Richard – POLICE NATIONALE / Les Gets Ski Competition (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Julia Simon – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
Men
- Fabien Claude – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Basse sur Le Rupt Nordic skiing (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet – DOUANE / Ski Club du Grandvaux (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Emilien Jacquelin – DOUANE / CS Nordique Villard de Lans (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Eric Perrot – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Peisey-Vallandry (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Emilien Claude – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Basse sur Le Rupt Nordic skiing (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Antonin Guigonnat – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Morzine Avoriaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
The full Oberhof World Cup programme 🇩🇪
Thursday 9 January
- 2.20pm: women’s 7.5km sprint
Friday 10 January
- 2.20pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Saturday 11th January
- 12.30pm: women’s 10 km pursuit
- 2.45pm: Men’s 12.5 km pursuit
Sunday 12 January
- 12.20pm: Mixed single relay
- 2.30pm: mixed relay
