France’s Lou Jeanmonnot powered through the heavy at times snow and very slow tracks this afternoon capturing the Pokljuka Women’s 12.5 km Mass Start in 39:41.8. The French star took control of the competition after cleaning the second prone, going unchallenged to the finish, despite a penalty in the first prone stage.

“Fighting against myself”

With her win today, Jeanmonnot became the first French women to win seven times in a single season. At she admitted, despite a hard day on the tracks to being, “very pleased with my race. When I got to the shooting range, I was fighting against myself. It has been really difficult the last races, so this win is really meaningful for me.”

“Dealing with pressure for many races”

As for dealing with the pressure of chasing Franziska Preuss for the World Cup Total Score title, “I have been dealing with the pressure for many races now. This is the first race that I made with the pressure in a good way. So, I am proud of it.”

Bulgaria’s Milena Todorova shot clean in a personal-best second place, 16.4 seconds back. Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic finished third, 22.8 seconds back, after hitting personal-best 19-of 20 shots.

Jeanmonnot’s teammate Jeanne Richard, with one penalty finished fourth, 41.5 seconds back. Yellow Bib Franziska Preuss of Germany with two penalties finished fifth, 54.6 seconds back. Sweden’s Anna Magnusson finished in a season-best sixth place, shooting clean, 54.9 seconds back.

After snow yesterday more heavy snow and light winds greeted the women this afternoon for the next-to last mass start of the season.

Photos: Jaroslav Svoboda, Nordic Focus