Biathlon: at the finish, Julia Simon wins the Anterselva mass-start

As soon as the finish line was crossed, it collapsed.

At the end of his strength but his face radiant.

Just six days after winning the mass start in Oberhof, Germany, Julia Simon entered her name in the event in Anterselva, Italy.

A stage of the Biathlon World Cup.

She becomes the first Frenchwoman to win two mass-starts.

"It's crazy, I was not aware," smiles the winner at the microphone of the channel L'Équipe.

Then there are more representative things than this statistic.

There are plenty of great things to go for.

"

INCREDIBLE FINISH!

Julia Simon 🇫🇷 is the queen of the queens race in Antholz.

Third victory of his career and the double after his victory at Oberhof.

Bravo champion!

👏

📱📺💻 The live debrief 👉 https://t.co/wpyZfpbcUC #lequipeBIATHLON pic.twitter.com/wd7H5QaSC6

- the L'Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) January 23, 2021

She won this success after an incredible suspense and only two hundredths ahead of the Swedish Hanna Oeberg.

Austrian Lisa Theresa Hauser completes the podium.

Seventh-place Norwegian Marte Olsbu Roeiseland retained the lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Penalized by three rifle faults, the Frenchwoman was only in 10th place, 39 seconds behind the best, at the time of the last shooting session.

She then achieved, finally, a clear round at the best time to get closer to the leading trio, three seconds off the podium of Franziska Preuss, but nine seconds behind the Swedish Hanna Oeberg.

Like last week in Germany, Simon, author of the second best shooting time and the best time on skis, once again made a fantastic comeback, disgusting her rivals in the last few hundred meters.

More complicated for other French women

“I come back pretty quickly in the last lap, relishes the person concerned.

I didn't want to stay behind.

I did not know where the pursuers were and I did not want to be the turkey of the farce and finish 5th.

I decided to take the lead.

I took a few meters ahead and after that it was safe.

I know I'm not that bad at the end.

I prepared it in my head, I gritted my teeth until the end.

It is really very long this final straight.

It didn't play out much but it held up… I'm really happy.

"

At 24, Julia Simon signs the third victory of her career in the World Cup.

It also takes the lead in the mass start ranking.

The race was more complicated for the other French people: Anaïs Bescond (12th), Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (14th) and Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet (16th).

They will have the opportunity to catch up on Sunday during the relay, before a two-week break to prepare for the Worlds which will start on February 10.