Martin Fourcade had a nightmare at the World Championships a year ago in Östersund. No podium, 5th place in the pursuit for the best result and a real discomfort he hadn't even tried to hide: “Sportingly, it's complicated and I want to turn the page on this season. It's hard to take it in the face at each race and I'm fed up. A fed up that had also encouraged him to end his season prematurely. Some then wondered if it was not twilight for the 30-year-old biathlete after a very successful career. But the Catalan did not build such a prize list - five Olympic titles and eleven world titles in particular - without having the pride of a champion. From the one who pushes you to overcome difficulties rather than give up.
As if by chance, it was at Östersund that Fourcade got back on its feet by starting this season with success in the individual. A historic race for hexagonal biathlon with an impressive quad, symbol of the richness of a discipline dominated by the Blues. Just take a look at the current World Cup standings to have confirmation with Fourcade leader, ahead of Quentin Fillon Maillet (2nd) and Simon Desthieux (4th). A sham hierarchy, however. Indeed, if Johannes Boe is in 3rd place, it is only because of his decision to stay close to his wife to attend the birth of his first child, which made him miss two stages of the World Cup. But with his six victories in nine individual races, it is the 26-year-old Norwegian who is the boss of the discipline when entering the World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva.
"I don't set myself a medal goal because it has never been my way of doing things"
Martin FourcadeA place that inspires Fourcade: “It really is a place and a track where I like to be. The seven-time winner of the World Cup, from 2012 to 2018, therefore presents himself there with ambition. “I want to play in front and be one of the strong men of these Worlds. Afterwards, I don't set myself a medal goal because it was never my way of doing things. I just want to win a race and see what I can do during the competition, with the desire to also defend my yellow bib as the leader of the World Cup. "After his very complicated last season, the Catalan regained his splendor on skis, even if he recognizes Boe's superiority in this area. "I don't usually hide my face. At the start of the season, Johannes showed that he was a bit stronger than me on skis. But I worked well before Antholz to make up for this delay. "And as in shooting, since the beginning of January, Fourcade has set the target as at its best, the Norwegian knows that he will not have the right to make mistakes. A pressure that the French will live differently, he who is delighted to no longer be the only one to wear high the colors blue-white-red.
Winner of the Pokljuka mass start on January 26, Fillon Maillet is also a candidate for gold, all the more at Antholz-Anterselva where he won a year ago during the mass start. With three podiums each this season, Desthieux and Émilien Jacquelin could also shine at these Worlds, as will be the case for the French Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz and Anaïs Bescond, as fast on skis as irregular, alas, rifle à la hand. But eyes will remain on Fourcade, which is just one world title away from Ole Einar Bjorndalen's individual record. In Italy, he will have four opportunities to equal him, and even why not to exceed him. History to demonstrate that Östersund a year ago was just a mishap.
The Worlds program
Friday February 14 (2:45 p.m.): Women's sprint 7.5 km. Saturday 15: men's sprint 10 km. Sunday 16: ladies' pursuit 10 km; men's pursuit 12.5 km. Tuesday 18: individual ladies 15 km. Wednesday 19: individual men 20 km. Thursday 20: simple mixed relay. Saturday 22: 4x6 km ladies relay; men's relay 4x7.5 km. Sunday 23: mass start ladies 12.5 km; mass start men 15 km.
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