Tarjei Boe Returns, Wins Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start
Norway’s Tarjei Boe, after a rough start to the season, with no podiums and sitting out the sprint here returned in style, winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand 15 km Mass start in 37:20.8. The Norwegian veteran took the lead when he cleaned the first standing stage and even after his only penalty of the day in the finals standing was never challenged in his first win and individual podium of the season.
"One of my best victories”
Tarjei's last win, just over a year ago in the Hochfilzen Sprint knew a lot was riding on today’s final competition of 2024. “This was one of my best victories for sure. It has been a difficult December and I was out of the team for the sprint, so it was all in today. This was also an important race for the World Champs; now I am qualified and it is a great feeling.”
JT “quite happy for me”
After a big hug and smile from his brother at the finish, he said that his brother, “was quite happy for me. He is winning enough and he saw that I had some struggles. You know blood is thicker than water. I think he likes it when his brother is happy and has good races.”
Riethmueller’s Career Best
Germany’s Danilo Riethmueller, also with one penalty finished in a career-best second place, 4 seconds back, taking the lead in the World Cup Mass Start Score after his earlier Kontiolahti Mass Start 4th place. The 25-year-old called his big breakthrough, “Unbelievable; absolutely crazy. I need some minutes or hours to decide what happened; a really crazy feeling to stand next to the big boys, the Boe family. I am very happy.”
Yellow Bib Johannes Thingnes Boe with three penalties finished third, 9.7 seconds back, setting up another Boedium. Norwegians claimed five of the six spots in the Flower Ceremony: Sturla Holm Laegreid, with two penalties finished fourth, Martin Uldal with three penalties fifth, and Vebjoern Soerum sixth, 10.9, 17.1 and 17.2 seconds back, respectively.
Norwegian Train
2024’s last competitions faced fog and rain as the temperature hovered around freezing. JT led the pack into the first prone, cleaning but 2 seconds behind Justus Strelow and Laegreid. The Yellow Bib led a five-man Norwegian train into the second prone, with Soerum, Laegreid, Tarjei and Uldal all cleaning and JT with a penalty.
Tarjei was the only Norwegian perfect the first standing, 17-seconds ahead Soerum and Laegreid. Riethmueller matched, 31 seconds back. By the last standing, JT was back with Soerum and Laegreid after a second penalty.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 3 Annecy Le Grand Bornand Men's 15 km Mass Start
Tarjei Heads to Victory
The elder Boe brother picked up a penalty in the last standing, but remained the leader. Riethmueller left second, 11 seconds back with Laegreid and JT battling for the podium.
Tarjei remained away, safe and heading for his first win of the new season crossing the line punching the sky. Riethmueller followed while JT passed Laegreid for third.
Photos: IBU/ Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus
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