“I did an incredible thing!”

Laegreid’s win sealed his first-ever big Crystal Globe for the World Cup Total Score while tying JT for the World Cup Pursuit Score Globe. The Yellow Bib called the fight with JT,“a battle I will remember for the rest of my life. Johannes is in his best shape and impossible to beat. But today I did it. I did an incredible thing and secured the Globe, so I really wrote down history after Johannes. It’s good!”

Last standing, “It was now or never”

Filled with emotion and tears flowing, Laegreid explained the importance of winning the Total Score. “Of course, I knew the whole race if I beat him, I would win the Total Score. I knew that going into the last shooting together, it was now or never! When I skied out on the last loop alone, I really could not believe it. It is a dream come true really. All my friends and family are here supporting me. It has been my biggest goal since I started with biathlon, so it means a lot."

Fillon Maillet, “kind of race I love”

JT had three penalties in second place, 20.5 seconds back. France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet prevailed in third after battling with Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel down to the final meters, 28.9 to 29.1 seconds back, both with a single penalty. Fillon Maillet admitted, “This is the kind of race I love. Thank you to Tommy. We worked hard and were together the whole race. We helped each other. It was a really great race; I appreciate sharing it with Tommy.” Fillon Maillet’s third place put all of the Total Score champions from the past seven years on the podium.

Norway’s Isak Frey and Johannes Dale-Skjevdal claimed fifth and sixth, with two and four penalties, 1:37.5 and 1:46.4 back, respectively.

Prone Misses, Lead Changes

The last pursuit Saturday of the season was again spring-like. JT missed his first prone shot, dwindling his lead to 8.1 seconds over the 5-for-5 Laegreid.