France’s Julia Simon using a combination of clean shooting and brilliantly fast skiing flew to victory in this afternoon’s Kontiolahti women’s 10 km pursuit, crossing the line in 31:13. Simon’s clean shooting today was her first-first ever in a four-stage competition and only her second ever in an individual World Cup competition. Italy’s Dorothea Wierer also shot clean in second place, 11.9 seconds back. Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg, with one penalty finished in a season best third place, 21.7 seconds back.

Simon’s “Perfect Race”

Simon called her win today, “My best race; perfect shooting; it feels really special. I was quite good on the skis and at the shooting range I was perfect; really good for me. I am so happy that I do not know what to say.”

“It was electric”

The close battle for the podium was a highlight for the winner. “It was really nice to race with lot of fun to race with really strong girls. I think it was a good race to watch because it was so nice to be skiing with the (three other) girls, Everything happened in the shooting range…It was so electric. It was really fun!”

Vittozzi Retains Yellow Bib

Wierer’s teammate Lisa Vittozzi, with one penalty finished fourth, 26.3 seconds back. Although Vittozzi finished fourth, she retained the Yellow Bib which she will wear in Thursday’s women’s sprint in Hochfilzen.

Canadian Emma Lunder, also with one penalty finished fifth, 1:33.2 back. Simon’s teammate Caroline Colombo shooting clean finished in a personal best sixth place, 53.5 seconds back.

Lead Changes in Prone Stages

Light snow continued as the women began their first pursuit of the season. Hauser led into the first prone but missed a shot in the first prone stage, opening the door for the clean-shooting Vittozzi, wearing Yellow to take the lead by 6.6 seconds. Wierer, Lunder and Elvira also cleaned leaving less than ten seconds from the lead.

Italian Flashback

It was like a flashback seeing Vittozzi together with her on the tracks according to Wierer, “It is really good for the Italian team and staff. We hope to continue like this; it will be really hard, but we will do our very best.” Vittozzi and Elvira came to the second prone stage together; Vittozzi cleaned easily while her Swedish rival went to the penalty loop. Just seconds behind, Hauser, Wierer, Lunder and Simon were all prefect, leaving with a gap of seven seconds behind the Italian.

Fast-shooting Simon

Simon grabbed the lead in the first standing stage, knocking down the five targets rapidly. Vittozzi, Wierer and Lunder did the same, sending the top four out in almost lockstep within 1.7 seconds. The next group led by the also 15-for-15 Davidova with Elvira on her shoulder trailed by 23 seconds.

Last Stage Decision

Everything would be decided in the last standing stage. At the top of the wall, with 600 meters to the range, Vittozzi had a small lead in the leading pack of four. Simon and Wierer both blew through their five targets that all turned white, leaving the stadium together for one more tour of the 2 km loop and a final climb of the Wall. Simon described the last stage. “I was very focused. I was just thinking about some simple things and was really confident about what I had to do…I think I need to remember this race for the rest of the season.” Vittozzi and Lunder, both with a single penalty left 25 seconds back with clean-shooting Elvira another four seconds back.

Elvira was happy to finally shoot well and stay calm on the tracks. “I’ve had struggles on the shooting range in the previous individual races, although I did an incredibly good relay. You want to do it in an individual race, so it was nice to do it today…an incredible race with really good shooting. It was fun to see so many women…in a tight race. It is a challenge to stay cool on the track, not to think that I am supposed to pass everyone… I am super satisfied with nineteen hits, especially clean in standing. It means I am back on track on the shooting.”

Two Battles

Two battles loomed: for the victory and the last podium spot. Simon quickly put six seconds on Wierer, while Elvira left her two rivals behind, all of this before the final climb. Wierer lost time but as she topped the Wall, still had enough of a gap to hold off the hard-changing Elvira.

Heavy Legs

Wierer admitted that in the last loop, “I still have really heavy legs. Lying in bed and taking medication is not the best race preparation. I was really concentrating on the shooting, but a lot of girls were shooting so well. I had no chance in the last loop against Julia; she was so strong and I was really afraid of Elvira.”

Simon and Wierer’s Podium Happiness

Simon cruised into the stadium waving at the sparse crowd, claiming her second career pursuit win, both in Kontiolahti. “It was a really close sprint. Today was a big fight; it was nice to start behind and climb more and more places. It is nice to be on the podium here for the second time…It is nice to be on the podium in the first week of the season because last year was very tough.”

Wierer, on the podium for the first time this season after some minor health problems in recent days; her voice still sounding like someone with a bad cold. “It was a bad decision to start the individual, but I wanted to try to catch some points. But it would have been better to stay in bed. I did not think it would be possible in this condition. It was a surprise.”

Photos: IBU: Christian Manzoni/ Hendrik Osula