The tricolor line-up had enough nose to save Julia Simon on Saturday for the relay from Ruhpolding (Germany). This Sunday, the biathlete from Le Saisi, who leads the overall World Cup standings, added even more yellow to her leader’s jersey by winning the mass start ahead of Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi and her compatriot Anais Chevalier-Bouchet.
Impressive consistency: Since the start of the season, the 26-year-old Simon has won the podium nine times (three wins) in twelve individual races, including six in a row in the current series. On the Bavarian section, the Frenchwoman, despite a “slight” 17/20 shooting record, waited for the last shot to strike before finishing superbly in the “three” count.
“I had a plan in my head, and everything went as I imagined,” she smiled into the Team 21 microphone. Either I felt much stronger physically and left at the start of the last lap, or I was waiting. This is what I did because I gave a lot before. This attack on the last bump, it’s a nickel. I relied on my qualities as a puncher. Everything is fine! »
As quick to ski as she is to shoot, the Beijing Olympic medley silver medalist almost failed to confuse speed with haste in her quest for victory. “I had a lot of fun,” she continues. I was really very excited, I had a lot of desires, it was really very electric and I’m happy that I was able to direct myself. »
A little extra freshness made a difference. “She had more money, she was faster,” notes Anais Chevalier-Boucher. I didn’t know how to put enough on the bump to unhook it. Already third in pursuit on Thursday, Julia Simon can leave Germany with the satisfaction of a job well done. Moreover, she regains her lead in the specialization standings and increases her overall lead over Elvira Oeberg, who is sick and absent from the race. The Swede is now 141 points behind as we are in the middle of the season.
“In the overall standings, I have a little joker,” analyzes the Frenchwoman, whose progress in shooting from a prone position is one of the keys to success. But I’m not immune. See you next Thursday at the sprint in Antholz (Italy) to confirm our big ambitions.
Source: Le Parisien
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