The French team of Emilien and Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet and anchor leg Emilien Jacquelin took control in the second leg of the Ruhpolding Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay, running to a 1:08:45.4 victory, using six spare rounds on a breezy afternoon. Fabien keyed the victory that Jacquelin brought home, moving into the lead when then-leading Vebjoern Soerum picked up two penalties, putting Norway at a deficit they never recovered from.

Three-peat, “Big victory for our team”

French anchor Jacquelin was proud of his team’s third consecutive relay win this season. “It is the first time in French history to get a three-peat. It means a lot for us. On our best days, we keep our humility, do our best every day and we know we can do this kind of a race. It is so great that we were able to do it. It is special because in Ruhpolding with this crowd and really fast track. It is quite different from other relays, so we can be proud…It is a big victory for our team.”

Sweden, with 10 spares, moved from a low point 13th position after the second leg to second place at the finish, 38.4 seconds back. Germany with 14 spares finished third, 58.8 seconds back.

Slovenia finished fifth, their best relay result in years, fourth with six spares, 1:13.8 back. Norway, with JT Boe’s slid anchor leg rebounded to fourth, with three penalties and ten spares, 1:05.9 back. Ukraine finished sixth, with seven spares, 1:19 back.

A bluebird day, a swirling wind, +1C and a huge crowd in the Chiemgau Arena for the first men’s relay of 2025 with 22 teams on the starting line led by perennial rivals Norway, France and Germany.

Photos: IBU/Svoboda, Nordic Focus