In a crazy atmosphere, and at the end of a thrilling race, Lou Jeanmonnot and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet finished on the podium in the mass start of Grand-Bornand, ahead of Camille Bened. But the victorious Norwegian Maren Kirkeeide came (a little) to spoil the party.
Blue everywhere, Blue on all the podiums, Blue in the stands and on the track. The ladies’ mass start on Sunday built on the momentum of this magnificent week in Annecy-Le Grand Bornand. He only missed the victory, ultimately snatched by an impressive Maren Kirkeeide.
Where to start? By this magnificent tifo in the bays of the stadium, a rarity in biathlon? By this prone shot provided by Lou Jeanmonnot and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who knew that everything would undoubtedly be decided later?
We thought that victory would be decided in the final standing, where five biathletes at 15/15 presented themselves on the shooting range. While Jeanmonnot and Braisaz-Bouchet made their only mistake of the day, it was a third Blue, Camille Bened, who came out on top, with the only 20/20 of this mass-start.
A final royal tour with Jeanmonnot, Braisaz-Bouchet and Kirkeeide
Impressive in shooting since the start of the season, Camille Bened is not the fastest on skis. She had the misfortune of coming out with around fifteen seconds ahead of three fighter planes, since Kirkeeide (who was at 14/15 before scoring a quick 5/5 standing) is one of the best skiers on the circuit, like Jeanmonnot and Braisaz-Bouchet. Cramps in the last rising falsehood condemned the leader.
The last lap was fantastic. And so it was Kirkeeide, the rising Norwegian (22 years old), who snatched the victory (her first in the World Cup) and deprived the Bleues of the apotheosis. The overall result remains excellent, with Jeanmonnot (2nd) strengthening her yellow bib with big points, and the first podium for Braisaz-Bouchet (3rd) this winter. Even Bened, at the foot of the podium, showed a big smile at the finish, having had nothing to regret about his race. And what a race!
