Fillon Maillet’s Clutch Standing Stage Seals French Relay Win
When the pressure was on in the final standing stage of this afternoon’s Nove Mesto na Morave Men’s 4 X 7.5 km Relay, France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet delivered a clutch performance of five blindingly fast shots, sealing victory in 1:16:24.3. Fillon Maillet’s brilliant last stage came as he shot side-by-side with Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe, who faltered with shaking legs, ending up with a penalty, setting for second place, 1:26.6 back. France’s win gave them a sweep of the World Cup Relays this season and the World Cup Relay Score title. Their only blemish was a loss to Norway at the IBU World Championships.
“Great day for the French team”
Fillon Maillet knew the pressure was on, battling for victory against JT in the final relay of the five-time World Cup Total Score titlist’s storied career. “It was a special task, battling with Johannes. We skied together in the two first loops: clean shooting in the prone. I knew the hard fight would be on the standing. I attacked this shooting, going with Johannes. This is a great day for the French team because we win the overall of the Relay with five wins and one second. It is just amazing. Thank you to all my teammates, all the waxmen, coaches, physio. It was an amazing season-ending relay.”
“Lot of pressure”
Summing up about teammates Emilien, Oscar Lombardot and Fabien Claude, he added, “My teammates did a great job. They put me in a lot of pressure, fighting for the lead with Johannes. This is a good day!”
“I did what I must”
France used just four spares in the win, with Norway picking up a penalty and eight spares. Ukraine, with seven spares finished in a season-best third place, 2:45.4 back, their first relay podium in five years, also with Dmytro Pidruchnyi anchoring in Nove Mesto. Pidruchnyi commented, “I knew the shooting range was difficult…I just did what I must…and shoot well to fight to the podium. Now I am really happy for my team. It’s cool really.”
Germany with four penalties and ten spares finished fourth, 2:57.1 back. Austria with ten spares finished fifth, 4:07.2 back while Italy with five penalties and eleven spares finished sixth, 4:28.8 back.
The closing competition day was another short sleeve 16C windy day. The first leg was a shakeout with Norway’s Martin Uldal tagged Tarjei Boe 17 seconds up on France’s Oscar Lombardot.
Despite struggling with the wind in standing, Tarjei got away with two spares, tagging third leg Sturla Holm Laegreid 16 seconds ahead of Fabien who closed the gap, cleaned prone in five shots for the lead while Laegreid used two spares. A single standing spare kept France in front; Fabien tagged Fillon Maillet 4 seconds before JT.
2024/25 BMW IBU World Cup 7 Nove Mesto na Morave Men's 4 X 7.5 km Relay
Aggressive Last Standing for the Win
JT cleaned prone a second faster than Fillon Maillet, retaking the lead. The duo skied in lockstep into standing. Fillon Maillet cleaned aggressively with five shots sealing the victory; JT ended up on the penalty loop solidly in second. Pidruchnyi brought Ukraine home third.
Photos: IBU/Igor Stancik, Nordic Focus
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