France’s Lou Jeanmonnot matched her perfect shooting in her earlier Kontiolahti Short Individual victory this afternoon, taking the Ruhpolding Women’s 15 km Individual in 41:35.5. The French start controlled the top spot from the first standing stage, going unchallenged to her fourth victory this season.

Yellow Bib and Ruhpolding resident Franziska Preuss reasserted herself with a one-penalty second place finish, the first podium in her home Chiemgau Arena in six years, 35.7 seconds back. Switzerland’s Amy Baserga also shot clean, finishing in a career-best third place, giving the Swiss Team their first podium of the season.

Jeanmonnot’s teammate Oceane Michelon, with one penalty tied her career-best from last week in fourth place, 1:17.3 back. Today’s result moved the 22-year-old to the top of the Blue Bib (under 23) standings ahead of teammate Jeanne Richard. Sweden’s Johanna Skottheim shot clean in fifth place, 1:24.8 back, equaling her second-best career result after spending the last two seasons and part of this season in the IBU Cup.

Clear, cool and calm conditions dominated for the first women’s 15 km of the season, setting up a day when perfect or near-perfect shooting would be keys to the podium.

Photos: IBU Svoboda, Nordic Focus