Biathlon: time for the penultimate episode of the Lou Jeanmonnot/Franziska Preuss duel
On Friday, the nineteenth act in the duel between Lou Jeanmonnot and Franziska Preuss in the quest for the crystal globe was full of twists and turns in the sprint in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway). The closest episode of the season in this suspenseful series, it went in the German’s favour… by 2 tenths of a second.
A hard-fought victory at gave Franziska Preuss a 35-point advantage over the Doubiste rider in the overall standings.
“It’s not over yet, Lou Jeanmonnot told La Chaîne L’Equipe after his race, despite his legitimate disappointment. I’d love it if on Sunday we could do a mass-start on equal terms. And I wouldn’t have anything to regret even if it didn’t end the way I wanted.”
A chase that promises to put on a great show
Before that, however, the Doubiste rider must negotiate the penultimate opus of the winter: the Oslo pursuit. At 3.50pm, she will take the lead of the race at the same time as her favourite enemy of the season. It promises to be a duel of rare intensity between two biathletes who have been hard to separate in recent weeks.
“They’re going to have a spectacular race, predicts Julia Simon. I know what that pressure is like and I think Lou [Jeanmonnot] is in the right place because having the yellow bib is enormous pressure, especially for [Franziska] Preuss because in Germany, they’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I can’t even imagine what she’s going through!”
The biathlon world, including the thousands of spectators expected at the Holmenkollen Arena on Saturday, are eagerly awaiting this duel. It promises to be a thrilling one, and should not disappoint, as it takes place at high altitude.
- The full programme for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup, the ninth and final stage of the 2024/2025 season
- Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup: the full programme for the presentation of the crystal globes
- Corinne Niogret: my best memory of… Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Firsts for Camille Bened and Amandine Mengin, the boys’ sevens: the French team selection for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup finals
- “I want to show myself at my best”: how Camille Bened approached her first steps on the World Cup sprint circuit in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Chloé Bened’s pride after her older sister Camille Bened won the IBU Cup overall and was selected for the World Cup: “She’s our star, our champion, our idol”.
- Amandine Mengin on the eve of her World Cup debut in Oslo-Holmenkollen: “I have no idea why my season has taken such a turn for the worse…”.
- “She’ll remember this season for the rest of her life”: long-time friend and team-mate Maëla Correia talks about Amandine Mengin, who is about to discover the World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
- “Help them to repeat what they have done so far”: what Cyril Burdet expects from Camille Bened and Amandine Mengin at their first World Cup in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
- “The small sprint globe is up for grabs”: in addition to the overall podium, Emilien Jacquelin will be going for the crystal in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
- Race for the big crystal globe: the sprint in the Oslo-Holmenkollen finals, a decisive stage in Lou Jeanmonnot’s quest
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Johannes Thingnes Boe, king in front of his home crowd, wins the last sprint of his career, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Claude in the top 10
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Johannes Thingnes Boe wins the small globe in the sprint, the fourth of his career
- “I felt my left leg shaking…”. how Emilien Jacquelin explains his cracking standing shot in the Oslo-Holmenkollen sprint
- “I’m still very upset”: Eric Perrot angry at the IBU’s decision not to reverse the sprint start list
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: the French men’s team triumphs at the Nations Cup for the first time in its history
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: the photo album of the French men’s team with the Nations Cup crystal globe
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Franziska Preuss wins the sprint 2 tenths of a second ahead of Lou Jeanmonnot, Julia Simon fifth
- “15 points for 2 tenths is extremely expensive”: despite a full race, Lou Jeanmonnot lost ground to Franziska Preuss in the quest for the big globe
- “I was very relieved when Lou finished his race”: two tenths worth 15 precious points for Franziska Preuss after the sprint in Oslo-Holmenkollen
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: by winning the sprint just ahead of Lou Jeanmonnot, Franziska Preuss takes a 35-point lead overall
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Franziska Preuss secures the small globe in the sprint, becoming the sixth German woman to win it
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Jeanne Richard edges out Océane Michelon in the battle for the best U23 trophy
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: for the third year running and the sixth time, the French women’s team lift the small globe in the Nations Cup
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: the photo album of the French women’s team with the Nations Cup crystal globe
- Oslo-Holmenkollen: Lou Jeanmonnot’s photo album with the small crystal globe in the individual race
