The French team, made up of Fabien Claude, Emilien Jacquelin, Simon Desthieux and Quentin Fillon-Maillet, finished second in the relay (4x7.5 km) in Ostersund (Sweden) on Saturday, counting for the Biathlon World Cup and won by Norway.
The Blues, well launched by Fabien Claude, were handicapped by the passage of Emilien Jacquelin who needed five picks in shooting (3 lying down, 2 standing).
The Norwegians (Sivert Bakken, Tarjei Boe, Johannes Thingnes Boe, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen), reigning world champions in the specialty, have to demonstrate formidable rifle efficiency (4 pickaxes in total) to get ahead of France by 11.2 seconds.
Russia (Said Khalili, Daniil Serokhvostov, Alexander Loginov, Eduard Latypov) finished 3rd at 45.9 seconds.