Lou Jeanmonnot won another weekly battle with Franziska Preuss, but the yellow bib is where it has been from 8 December 2024 all the way until today - on the German champion’s shoulders. Johannes Thingnes Boe fell sick and skipped the Mass Start, giving Sturla Holm Laegreid perhaps the deciding edge before the final week in Oslo-Holmenkollen. The women’s U23 Cup Score battle remains a delightful thriller. And Slovenia had its day under the sun with Jakov Fak winning in the Individual and Anamarija Lampič finishing third in the Mass Start.

A nail-bitter in Oslo-Holmenkollen

Franziska Preuss and Lou Jeanmonnot remain locked in the monumental battle for the Total Score title, with 20 points between them as the BMW IBU World Cup descends on the historic Oslo-Holmenkollen venue. Going all-in brought Jeanmonnot a win in the Mass Start in perhaps the most demanding conditions of the season. Jeanmonnot became the first Frenchwoman to achieve seven World Cup victories in one season. She is also the first Frenchwoman to win in all four individual disciplines — Sprint, Pursuit, Individual, and Mass Start — in a single season. The last athlete to achieve this feat was Laura Dahlmeier in the 2016/17 season. Soft snow certainly didn’t play into Preuss’ hands but she squeezed maximum from the Pokljuka week with 20/20 and third place in the Individual and 18/20 and fifth place in the Mass Start. Jeanmonnot also finished seventh in the Individual and won 16 points more in Pokljuka than the leader from Germany.

Laegreid is in the driving seat

The eighth week of the World Cup season - including the two BMW IBU World Championships weeks - has proven a weak spot in Johannes Thingnes Boe’s plans to remain in yellow bib before the final three days in Oslo-Holmenkollen. He took all the time in the world on the shooting range in the Individual as only four athletes from 93 shot longer than Johannes. One miss and his feverish body brought him 10th place, a higher fever, and a ticket to Norway with his hopes high to recover in time for a proper goodbye. Sturla Holm Laegreid finished second in the Individual and third in the Mass Start and has a 104-point lead over Boe, with 270 still up for grabs in Oslo. Laegreid also collected the title of the Individual Cup Score.

Jakov Fak stops time and Lampič her nerves

Local hero Jakov Fak brought home his ninth World Cup win, his first one after 10 years and first in Pokljuka after he triumphed in the Sprint in 2012/2013 season just 0.8 seconds ahead of Emil Hegle Svendsen. Fak used his deep knowledge of the Pokljuka course to hit a magnificent 20 out of 20 and benefited from the super slow snow conditions. At 37 years, 4 months, and 30 days old, Fak became the second-oldest World Cup winner in history, trailing only Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who claimed victory in the Individual in Oestersund during the 2015/2016 season at 41 years, 10 months, and 6 days. Motivated by his success, Anamarija Lampič shot 19/20 in the Mass Start - her previous career-best score in the 20-shots competitions was 16/20 in the Oberhof Pursuit in January - and finished third.

First-ever for Switzerland Sweden in the Mixed Relay

Niklas Hartweg and Aita Gasparin won in the Single Mixed Relay for Switzerland’s first-ever relay win of any kind. Sebastian Samuelsson anchored Sweden to the Mixed Relay win for their first-ever Mixed Relay Cup Score triumph.

Richard still in blue, but only just

U23 thriller moves to Oslo-Holmenkollen with Jeanne Richard fourth in the Total Score with 676 points, Oceane Michelon fifth with 666 points, Selina Grotian sixth with 620 points and Maren Kirkeeide 10th with 506 points. Richard won 86 points in Pokljuka, Michelon 78, Kirkeeide 61 and Grotian 57.

Bened joined Frey as the IBU Cup Total Score winner

Camille Bened from France joined Isak Frey as the IBU Cup Total Score title winner. Just like Frey in the Norwegian team, Bened was the most consistent athlete in the mighty French women’s team. The triumph had earned Bened and Frey a spot in the World Cup squads. Frey made his BMW IBU World Cup debut with 17th place in the Individual in Pokljuka, Bened qualified for the Oslo-Holmenkollen World Cup week.

Photo: J. Svoboda, H. Osula: IBU Pool, Nordic Focus