French Near-Perfection Dominates Men’s Relay

BMW IBU World Cup

01 Dec 2024

French Near-Perfection Dominates Men’s Relay

Emilien Jacquelin’s two spare rounds cost France a perfect day on the range but made little difference as Les Blues dominated the Kontiolahti Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay this afternoon. The French foursome of Jacquelin, Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eric Perrot were never challenged after the first exchange in their 1:18:24.4 runaway victory over Norway.

History on the Line

Jacquelin knew history was on the line from the moment he took the tag from Eric Perrot. No team had ever gone through a relay without missing a shot. “It was nearly perfect. Maybe the best relay we have ever done…We always think about zero mistakes in the relay. I was already thinking about that when I started, thinking ‘okay, I will try to stay focused and not think about that.’ But after my prone shooting, I tried to stay focused; I thought we could do that. (In standing), I was shaking a lot but did the best I could.”

“Our coach can be proud”

As for his two anchor legs in two days, he added, “It was an interesting weekend. Yesterday, I tried to catch people and to be alone today trying to catch a bit of history. We were so close…I think our coach can be proud.”

Norway, undefeated in World Cup relays last season but topped by Sweden at the IBU World Championships finished second, with three spares, 25.8 seconds back. Sweden, with ten spares finished third, 1:37.8 back.

Germany with one penalty and nine spares finished fourth, 2:03.9 back while the USA with 11 spares finished sixth, 2:58.6 back.

"We will be on the podium someday"

Between them, the home team Finland finished fifth, with four spares, 2:46.4 back. The fifth place was one of the Finn’s best men’s relay results in history. Anchor Otto Invenius called it, “The best relay I have ever been on, but we will be on the podium some day!”

Claude Breaks Laegreid on “the Wall”

Twenty-two teams started the new season’s first men’s relay on a dark, frosty-4C late afternoon with light range winds. Unsurprisingly, Sturla Holm Laegreid led back on the tracks after a perfect prone stage. In standing, Laegreid and Claude shot side-by-side, matching shots, leaving simultaneously 13 seconds in front of the field. Then everything went in the French squad’s favor. Claude broke Laegreid on “the Wall,” leaving Norway’s hopes for victory behind. Claude tagged Fillon Maillet 10 seconds before Tarjei Boe; the French foursome went unchallenged from that point.

Resounding Victory

After Claude and Fillon Maillet both went 10-for-10, history looked possible, 28 seconds up on Norway with continued brilliant shooting. Perrot matched, pulling 57 seconds ahead of Norway when he tagged Jacquelin. The two-time IBU World Champion kept the dream alive with five fast prone shots; two standing spares ended that dream but sealed a resounding victory.

Crossing the line, Jacquelin pointed to “France” on his sleeve, emphasizing who won the first installment of the season-long relay battle.