Sprint Victory at Home for Justine Braisaz Bouchet
France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet delighted her home crowd this afternoon by winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Women’s 7.5 km Sprint in 21:19.2. Today’s victory with a single standing penalty was the first of the season and second career win in the Sylvie Becaert Stadium for the Olympic Mass Start Gold medalist.
Thanks to the Fans
Braisaz-Bouchet remains the only French woman to claim a victory in this home World Cup, considering herself, “a very lucky French athlete. It is crazy to be here at home with such a crowd, pushing me every time on the shooting range and on the tracks. Even on training days, they are crazy. I thank them very much.”
“I just did my best”
The winner was unaware of Preuss’ push to take the lead away. “I knew about Franziska Preuss just before crossing the line. I did not know she was doing so good. I just did my best. I tried to be in first place, but if she wins, she wins, It is okay. I am just very proud of how I managed with my skis and the rifle.”
Germany’s Preuss shot clean, challenging her French rival in the last loop, but came up 1.4 seconds short in second place.
Lampic, “Feels like Gold to me”
Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic got her long-awaited first-ever podium in third place, with two penalties, 13.7 seconds back. The former Cross Country World Cup Sprint Score bubbled happily, “Finally, the summer work paid off. I am really happy. I knew I did a few steps forward from last year to this year…It feels like Gold to me, a win…When I finished, I knew I beat a lot of girls, probably good enough for about 10th place but not third place.” Ukraine’s Yulia Dzhima shot clean in fourth place, 19.1 seconds back. German teammates Selina Grotian with one penalty and clean-shooting Vanessa Voigt finished fifth and sixth, 20.1 and 22.8 seconds back.
Bluebird Day: Braisaz-Bouchet, Lampic Battle
Yesterday’s rainy, dreary weather morphed into bluebird skies and a more winter-like 2C with moderate wind on the shadowed range. Lampic set the standard with a rare clean prone stage. Braisaz-Bouchet cleaned prone very quickly but .5 seconds ahead of Lampic. The Yellow/Red Bib, also perfect was 12 seconds off the lead.
Preuss on Top
Lampic held a precarious lead after two missed standing shots until the French Olympic Champion came to the stadium ahead of the Slovenian, missing a shot, but leaving 13.8 seconds up. Preuss came to standing 14 seconds back, but blew the 5 targets away, jumping 4.6 seconds ahead of Braisaz-Bouchet.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 3 Women's 7.5 km Sprint
Braisaz-Bouchet Prevails
Lampic, using her well-known ski speed, claimed the early finish line lead. Braisaz-Bouchet continued gaining ground, nabbing the top spot. Preuss continued battling her French rival but with 500 meters to go, she fell behind, crossing the line just over a second behind the local hero, ahead of Lampic in third.
Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus
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