JT Boe’s Master Class Buries Canmore Sprint Field
Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe taught a master class in how to win a sprint competition this morning, shooting clean with a decisive 23:37 victory in the Canmore Men’s 10 km Sprint. Boe’s wire-to-wire win, burying second place Tommaso Giacomel by over a minute, left nothing to the imagination, going two seconds up on the field 1200 meters into the competition and never looking back. JT was at his best, coming to standing 19 seconds up on the field, shooting brilliantly fast, swelling his lead to 46 seconds, then adding another 16 seconds in the last loop for his ninth win of the season, but his first sprint victory.
“Had energy all the way to the end”
JT’s 37th career sprint win, by the largest-ever time margin in a men’s sprint, set an all-time record. “It was one of my best sprints, probably my best race so far this year. I really enjoyed it. My skis were excellent. My shooting was also really good. From the start to the finish, I found a great pace and had energy all the way to the end.”
83 World Cup Victories
He also matched Martin Fourcade’s record 83 World Cup victories. “It means a lot. It is also a nice time, my 83rd victory. There is a god of biathlon that has the same, so it is a great day…I will try (to pass him tomorrow).”
Today’s win padded JT’s lead in the World Cup Total Score, upping his total to 1082 points, followed by Tarjei at 990 points, with two only this weekend’s pursuit and mass start remaining.
Tarjei Boe wins World Cup Sprint Score
Italy’s Giacomel with one penalty equaled his season and personal best in second place, 1:02.7 back. JT’s brother Tarjei, also with a single penalty finished third, 1:04.2 back, winning the World Cup Sprint Score for the second time in his career, 14 years after his previous win in 2011.
France’s Emilien Jacquelin finished fourth, 1:12.2 back. Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn shot clean in fifth place 1:13.2 back. Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson finished sixth, 1:16.3 back, with one penalty, the same as Jacquelin.
Bluebird Skies; Perfect Prone Shooting
The men had a warmer day than the women yesterday at +3C, with a bluebird sky highlighting the Rocky Mountain peaks and very little shooting range wind for the season’s final sprint. The top three all cleaned prone easily, with JT setting the bar, 7.1 seconds faster than anyone.
BMW IBU World Cup 9 Canmore Men's 10 km Sprint
JT’s Insurmountable Lead
Tarjei, knowing every shot counted in his small crystal globe quest, missed his fourth standing shot. Giacomel also missed one but came off the loop in front until JT blew through his five targets, taking an insurmountable 40+ second lead.
The final loop was a mere formality: JT continued to pull away, stretching his margin to 57 seconds with 1300 meters to go, eventually topping Giacomel and Tarjei by over a minute at the finish.
Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni
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