Preuss Dominates in Annecy Le Grand Bornand Pursuit Win
Germany’s Franziska Preuss started the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women’s 10 km Pursuit in second position, but quickly moved to the front in the first prone stage, dominating the rest of the competition for her second win of the season. The Yellow Bib with one standing penalty, finished in 29:09.9.
“Last shooting a challenge”
Preuss’s third career win left her, “Really, really satisfied. I felt really bad yesterday. My body gets better and better now. The last shooting was a big challenge; the French crowd was cheering but not for me. Still, I hit the black targets. Of course, I was a little bit afraid of Julia because she is so strong. I just focused on myself, let the skis glide and am really happy about today.”
“A lot of right decisions”
The German star credited her brilliantly consistent start to the season to good summer training. “It was training during the whole summer. I think I made a lot of right decisions in my daily training. I just focused on myself and did not make many compromises in my training, so it is nice that it worked.”
France’s Julia Simon with two penalties finished second, 27.3 seconds back. Preuss’ teammate Vanessa Voigt shot clean in third place, her second podium of the season, 44.3 seconds back.
Richard, “Thank you French crowd”
Simon’s teammate Jeanne Richard finished in a career-best fourth place with one penalty, 50.4 seconds back. Richard’s personal best had special meaning coming in France. “It means a lot because the French crowd is crazy! I’m very happy! The last shooting was very awesome because I was fighting with Julia and the other girls…thank you to the French crowd. I am happy with this atmosphere.”
Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide in fifth, with one penalty, 54.1 seconds back claimed a career-best for the second consecutive day, bettering her 11th in yesterday’s sprint. Sweden’s Elvira Oeberg, with two penalties, jumped from 32nd at the start to sixth, buoyed by the fastest ski time of the day, finishing 57 seconds back.
Preuss Shooting All Alone
Although the shooting range was completely shaded as the sun dropped behind the mountains, the women still had great conditions like the men. Preuss cleaned the first prone, taking the lead with Braisaz-Bouchet 35 seconds back. The Yellow Bib, shooting all alone, was clean and gone in the second prone before anyone else fired a shot. Anamarija Lampic, with her slow cadence cleaned, leaving second, 32 seconds back.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women's 10 km Pursuit
Steady Perfect Last Standing
Preuss had a single penalty in the first standing, retaining the lead. Richard went to 15-for-15 in second, 26 seconds back with Simon in third 31 seconds behind. The final standing stage was again dominated by Preuss’ steady perfect shooting, going out for the last loop 21 seconds ahead of the also-perfect Simon with Voigt next; the podium was set.
Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus
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