The 26-year-old Frenchwoman ended her season in style by winning the Mass-Start Cristal Globe, thanks to her 5ᵉ place during the last specialty race, Sunday, March 19, in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
by Denis Ménétrier
The icing on the cake. After officially winning the big crystal globe rewarding its first place in the general classification of the World Cup on Saturday, Julia Simon offered a bonus on Sunday, March 19, by winning the little Globe of the Mass-Start. Already at the top of the specialty ranking before the last race of the biathlon season, in Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway), the Frenchman made sure to lift a new trophy finishing in 5ᵉ place.
In the fog of Oslo, which almost caused the cancellation of the race, Simon had to keep an eye on his compatriots Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot, respectively second and third in the classification of the specialty, the only ones Power mathematically preventing him from winning the little crystal globe. After two perfect lying shots (10 out of 10), Julia Simon was more in trouble on the standing shot (6 out of 10), but in the same way as her pursuers.
The beautiful outing of Chevalier-Bouchet
Imperial shooting, it was the Swedish Hanna Oeberg who won ahead of Marte Olsbu Roiseland (2ᵉ) and Chevalier-Bouchet (3ᵉ). The latter offers a nice outing, with a podium, her 23ᵉ in the World Cup, for her last career race. This place of honor and the 60 points that come with it did not allow him to chew the little Crystal Globe of the Mass-Start, which therefore returns to Julia Simon. Simon and Chevalier-Bouchet finish first and second in the specialty, ahead of Hanna Oeberg. Lou Jeanmonnot, third before the race, finished fifth due to a disappointing 18ᵉ place in Oslo.
Julia Simon will now be able to savor her titles. “The Mass-Start will have to be finished for me to realize that it is it, it’s over. It’s just starting to become real with everyone who talks to me,” said the French of 26 yesterday years old, smiling. Winner of the big crystal globe and two small globes (Mass-Start and Pursuit), Julia Simon completes the most beautiful season of a career far from being finished.
Among men, the season ended with a victory for the insatiable Johannes Boe – his 19ᵉ success in the 23 individual races in which he participated this season – and the little Crystal Globe of the Mass -Start attributed to his Norwegian compatriot Vetle Christiasen. Among the Habs, Quentin Fillon Maillet finished 4ᵉ. For the first time in 26 years, no French has won during this season of Biathlon World Cup. A disappointment while the rupture between biathletes and their coaches has been acted since Friday.