Two French biathletes emerged victorious at the Pokljuka mass start event held on March 15, 2025, with Éric Perrot and Lou Jeanmonnot clinching first places respectively for the men's and women's competitions. Their performances not only secured them individual victories but also contributed significantly to the French team's standings in the current biathlon season.
Hostilities centered around the men’s race, which saw Perrot making a decisive final push to outpace his compatriot Quentin Fillon Maillet by 3.1 seconds. Both competitors achieved impressive shooting results, finishing with a score of 19 out of 20 hits. Perrot's strategy involved staying assertive, stating, “I tried to make some juice, to play it strategically by being ahead before making my attack.” This tactical approach paid off as he managed to pull away during the final laps, securing the victory.
Perrot highlighted the challenge of maintaining the lead, particularly under snowy conditions. “With these conditions, it was necessary to be upfront because if I was behind during the sprint, I would have needed to push out of the tracks, and it wouldn’t glide as well,” he explained post-race. Remarkably, this victory marks another consecutive French one-two finish at mass start events, mirroring their initial success seen earlier this season.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, the championship leader, finished third, trailing by 22.3 seconds, also with one penalty lap. Notably, this podium finish would add to Laegreid's points accumulation as he aims to retain his lead overall.
Meanwhile, the women's race showcased Jeanmonnot decisively win with 19 out of 20 shooting accuracy. Her performance was not only about individual excellence; it also served as a turning point for her position within the season's points ranking. Jeanmonnot finished 16.4 seconds ahead of Bulgaria's Milena Todorova, who secured no penalty laps, and Slovenia's Anamarija Lampic, who finished third. Reflecting on her race, Jeanmonnot shared, “I am really pleased with how I ran today,” as she underlined her mental preparation during the last shooting round as instrumental to her success.
Jeanmonnot’s victory marked her seventh win of the 2024/2025 season, positioning her as the French athlete with the most career wins within a single season. This is no small feat as she now holds the record previously set by Sandrine Bailly and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.
The significance of Jeanmonnot's victory extends beyond individual accolade; with the win, she moved within 20 points of the overall lead held by German Franziska Preuss. Preuss finished fifth during today's event and remains atop the overall classification with 1048 points. This sets the stage for upcoming competitions, as Jeanmonnot’s recent momentum places her as a significant contender for the upcoming races slated for Oslo.
The race conditions at Pokljuka were not only challenging due to the snow but also set the tone for the athletes’ performance strategies. Notably, those competing had to navigate across terrain becoming increasingly treacherous as snowfall continued, impacting both their speed and shooting accuracy.
Reflecting on the overall race, Jeanmonnot mentioned, “I faced everything I was scared of on the last shooting,” clearly indicating her sense of achievement and fortitude. Her resilience earned her not just the cup, but also bolstered her standings as they head toward the last three competitions of the World Cup.
With Jeanmonnot’s current form and Perrot’s strategic execution, the French team is set to have considerable representation as the biathlon World Cup reaches its zenith this season. With only three races remaining and the pressure building, all eyes will be on the dynamics of the team and individual performances as they vie for the championship title.
Tomorrow’s schedule at Pokljuka will see the mixed relays taking place, promising another exciting day of competition for athletes and fans alike. Both teams and individual participants are expected to showcase their best as they strive for victory.