The royal weekend continues for the French biathlon.
Imperial this Sunday, Emilien Jacquelin won the mass-start, in front of the boiling public of Grand-Bornand, by offering a demonstration on skis.
It is the third victory of his career and the first this year for the French, new leader of the World Cup.
He is ahead of his compatriot Quentin Fillon-Maillet, who had won the pursuit the day before.
Norwegian Tarjei Boe completes the podium.
IT'S THE BLUE DOUBLE!
Émilien Jacquelin won the mass start and Quentin Fillon Maillet grabbed a superb 2nd place!
#lequipeBIATHLON pic.twitter.com/2E3ZZxbawP
- the L'Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) December 19, 2021
A clear round on the first two lying shots propelled Jacquelin alone in the lead from the start of the race.
The French then went it alone for a lap, but a fault on the first standing shot then allowed his pursuers to pick up.
Whatever: faster than the others on the skis, he made the hole again and then showed impressive composure on the last shot to secure the victory, with a 19/20.
The beautiful rise of Fillon-Maillet
Leader of the general classification of the World Cup before the race, Quentin Fillon-Maillet gave up his yellow bib to his compatriot.
But the Frenchman could be satisfied with a good 2nd place: very far after the second shot, he made a magnificent comeback, to finish one breath away from Jacquelin.
The other two Blues lined up this Sunday, Fabien Claude (17/20) and Antonin Guigonnat (18/20), finished respectively in 14th and 16th place.
Read also "We can no longer hear yourself breathing with noise": when the warm atmosphere of Grand-Bornand carries biathletes
Real popular success, with 20,000 spectators in fusion on certain races, this round of the World Cup of Grand-Bornand was also a great sporting success for the French.
Out of the six individual races, the Blues signed five podiums: two second places for Julia Simon (on the pursuit and the mass-start), another for Anaïs Bescond (on the sprint), a victory for Quentin Fillon-Maillet (on the pursuit), to which is added this success of Jacquelin.
