Selina Grotian’s First Win in Snowy Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start

BMW IBU World Cup

22 Dec 2024

Selina Grotian’s First Win in Snowy Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start

Germany’s Selina Grotian came out of the last standing stage 4 seconds ahead of teammate and Yellow Bib Franziska Preuss. Moments later the 20-year-old sensation grabbed the lead, skiing powerfully through heavy snow on the soft tracks to her first-ever victory in the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women’s 12.5 km Mass Start. Grotian’s 38:35.4 single-penalty win topped her previous career best 4th place in last year’s IBU World Championships 15 km Individual.

“I can’t believe it!"

Grotian was overwhelmed was not sure she could win after the last standing stage. “Honestly, I can’t believe it! It is so crazy right now; it is not in my head…I can’t believe it. I thought I can go easy now. Second place is enough for me. I am pretty tired after the three weeks. But then I thought I am in good shape in the last two races, thinking maybe I could catch Franzi.”

“Fans are incredible”

She praised the French fans. “It is crazy here. The fans are incredible. They are so loud and that makes it so much fun to race here."

Preuss shot clean in second place. 12.7 seconds back, stretching her lead in the World Cup Total Score to 565 points, 194 points ahead of Elvira Oeberg.

Paulina’s Podium after Maternity Break

Slovakia’s Paulina Batovska-Fialkova finished third, with three penalties, nipping France’s Jeanne Richard at the finish line. 35.4 to 35.5 seconds back. Today’s third place was Batovska Fialkova’s first podium since March 2022, sitting out last season on maternity leave. She called it, “really emotional. I gave myself the second-best Christmas present after my daughter last year…Once I saw I was I was fifth place after last shooting, everything was possible…I had a little power left and did it at the finish line!”

Richard with one penalty in fourth equaled her personal best from yesterday’s pursuit. Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, with two penalties finished fifth, 57.2 seconds back. Richard’s teammate Julia Simon with four penalties finished sixth, 1:12.4 back.

Prone Stages: Grotian, Preuss Trail

Rain and then heavy snow softened the tracks making tough skiing during 2024’s closing competition. Fifteen women cleaned the first prone led by Minkkinen, Lou Jeanmonnot and Anna Magnusson, with Preuss fourth. Magnusson cleaned the second prone quickly, jumping 7.6 seconds ahead of also perfect Grotian and the Yellow Bib.

Preuss led into first standing stage. Richard cleaned before Preuss who lost time blowing snow from her rear sights. Lou Jeanmonnot cleaned, moving 8.7 seconds back.

2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 3 Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women's 12.5 km Mass Start

Grotian Wins in Heavy Snow

With heavy snow falling, Richard missed in the last standing while the Yellow Bib went to 20-for-20, 4.2-seconds lead over also-perfect Grotian with Richard third. In the final 2.5 km, Grotian moved in front, with a small gap of 3.5 seconds at the 11.5 split. Pushing hard, she skied to her first victory. Preuss followed; Batovska Fialkova passed Richard in the final 10 meters, grabbing third place.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus

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