Norway Dominates, Tops France for World Championships Relay Gold
Norway with Johannes Thingnes Boe on anchor for the last time in an IBU World Championships dominated the Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay, taking the Gold medal in 1:18:18.1. JT, his brother Tarjei, Endre Stroemsheim and Sturla Holm Laegreid used four spares, leading from the Stroemsheim’s standing stage on, leaving rival France 41.9 seconds back.
“Attacking from Endre to Tarjei to Sturla to me”
After not winning a relay all season and not winning the IBU WCH title since Pokljuka in 2021, JT called today’s Gold medal performance, “A big win for us; it’s been three years. This year has been a big rivalry with France and for every relay we thought next time we will win it, but haven’t done it. We were facing the truth: the French team is the best and we had to prove them otherwise. We did it today and I am proud of the team. It was attacking from Endre to Tarjei to Sturla to me. We made the perfect job!”
“Beautiful victory”
A high point for JT was his fist-bump with Quentin Fillon Maillet on the last loop in a spot when they passed on opposite sides of the tracks. “I was happy he came over to give me the fist bump. I really like to challenge with Quentin. He is a good friend of mine; a beautiful victory.”
France won the Silver medal, with seven spare rounds. Germany, with ten spares won the Bronze medal, 1:35.4 back, their first IBU WCH Relay medal since 2020.
Sweden with a penalty and eleven spares finished fourth, 1:54 back. Italy and Czechia, both with nine spares finished fifth and sixth, 2:12.4 and 2:24.8 back, respectively.
Short-sleeve weather continued for the mid-afternoon’s men’s competition, similar to the women’s had three hours earlier.
Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus
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