Biathlon: Julia Simon triumphs in Bessans
Julia Simon from the Beaufort region ended her final training camp with a triumph. This Sunday morning, on the snowfarm in Bessans (Savoie), she won the mass-start. A very high-level race in which, at 19/20, she came out on top with a perfect final shot against Lou Jeanmonnot and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the discipline.
“It was nice to be able to race at my level on the shooting range. I had fun doing some rather committed standing shots, but I just feel like I’m doing my biathlon, she explained afterwards, interviewed by La Chaîne L’Equipe. It comes through in training and also in this selection race, so it’s interesting, but I know that I need to know how to control the cursor. There will be days when it won’t be easy and when I’ll have to fight and accept losing time, a few seconds on the shooting range. I think the competitors have also worked hard, biathlon is evolving and everyone is trying to shoot faster to put pressure on their opponents. I’m having a great time doing it.”
Julia Simon wants to get down to business
Overall, Julia Simon came away from the Savoyard competitions feeling “pretty good”. “I’m happy to have won on the slopes of Bessans, I’m very satisfied with the race”, she insists.
Keeping an eye throughout the weekend on the performances put in by her rival and friend Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold in Sjusjøen (Norway), she is above all looking forward to getting down to business in twelve days’ time in Kontiolahti (Finland).
“The preparation is long, so we want to put on a race number and get down to business, she says. I’m not someone who starts every season on a high. I’m lucky in that we’re starting with relays.” That will be on 30 November in Finland.
Julia Simon’s photo album from the sprint and mass-start in Bessans (Savoie)
- Sélections de Bessans: Julia Simon triumphs in the mass-start, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Paula Botet on the podium
- “I found real friends in difficult times”: Julia Simon reflects on her friendship with Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and the Norwegians
