France’s Julia Simon totally controlled the anchor leg of this evening’s IBU World Championships Mixed Relay, not missing a shot and powerfully skiing to the Gold medal in 1:09:24.4. Simon and teammates, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet had one penalty and nine spare rounds in claiming their first mixed relay WCH title since Oslo 2016. After a see-saw battle in the men’s legs, Braisaz-Bouchet took the lead after her standing stage, giving Simon a 6.4-second lead that the anchor extended to 45.2 seconds by the finish.

Defending Champions Norway, with eight spares won the Silver medal. Sweden, with ten spares won the Bronze medal when anchor Elvira Oeberg overpowered Switzerland’s Amy Baserga on the final lap to seal the last medal, 1:01.7 to 1:02.9 back for the fourth place Swiss.

Germany, after leading much for much of the competition finished fifth, with a penalty and nine spares, 1:30.9 back. Austria, with seven spares finished sixth, 2:30.5 back.

Twenty-five Teams: Cold, Wet Evening

Twenty-five teams lined up for the IBU WCH-opening mixed relay on a windy, rainy 6C evening, in front of 20,000 fans in the Vysocina Arena. German leadoff Justus Strelow went 10-for-10, but Perrot fought back after standing, tagging Fillon Maillet a half step in front of Philipp Nawrath, with JT Boe third, but 16 seconds back.

In the lead after prone, Nawrath struggled in standing, allowing Fillon Maillet after one miss to close within 6 seconds with Norway 26 seconds back.

France Takes Over

Franziska Preuss started eight seconds up on Braisaz-Bouchet, with Karoline Knotten 20 seconds back. Braisaz-Bouchet quickly closed the gap but went for a penalty loop. Preuss added one in standing, ceding the lead to Norway, but half-way through the last loop, Braisaz-Bouchet took charge, tagging Simon six seconds up on the Swiss and Norwegians.

Simon easily closed the ten targets in her anchor leg, leaving standing with no doubt about victory. Tandrevold got away second after a spare. Switzerland’s Amy Baserga cleaned standing in five shots. Elvira followed 12 seconds out of the last medal, but she quickly passed Baserga, sealing the Bronze medal for Sweden.

Photos: IBU/Vianney Thibaut, Nordic Focus