Starting more than a minute behind Denise Herrmann-Vick after her disappointing sprint on Friday, Julia Simon managed a magnificent pursuit to become world champion this Sunday in Oberhof!
The odds were high to see Julia Simon crowned pursuit world champion, as she started 62 seconds behind Denise Hermann-Vick, the winner of the sprint on Friday! But this season, the biathlete has taken on another dimension, and it’s not a big time gap and nine girls to pass that scare her! The 26-year-old Frenchwoman made up for her delay little by little, delighting with her ultra-fast shooting while taking advantage of the blunders of her rivals, to go and win her first world medal in an individual event (she has already won two in the relay) !
Simon imperial shooting
Fast on skis in the fog of Oberhof, Julia Simon had already taken thirteen seconds from Denise Herrmann-Vick and Hanna Oeberg (parties two seconds apart) before arriving on the first firing point. A prone shot where the Frenchwoman managed a clear round, which allowed her to come out fourth at 26 seconds from the Swede, who made a mistake, just like the German. Author of a new clear round on the second prone shot, Simon climbed to second place in the standings, 23 seconds behind Herrmann-Vick, while Oeberg made two errors. And the rise of the Frenchwoman materialized on the first standing shot, where she shot very quickly to take the lead, while her German rival took out a ball and found herself a second and a half behind Simon. It was all going to be decided on the last shot, and the World Cup leader made her first mistake, but it had no consequence, as Herrmann-Vick made two and went out of the range. 28 seconds behind Simon. The Frenchwoman could therefore breathe a little before embarking on the last two kilometers and go and offer herself this world title, and a first individual world title for the French delegation since Marie-Dorin Habert in 2013 (individual and mass-start) . What a season for the native of Albertville!
Young French women at the rendezvous
After a generally disappointing sprint, the French women’s team recovered well in the pursuit with, in addition to Simon’s victory, the fine 6th and 9th places of the youngsters Lou Jeanmonnot and Sophie Chauveau. A very good omen for the future (not to mention that Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, mother for a few days, will return next season). Next meeting for the French: the individual (15km) on Wednesday.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (W) / OBERHOF (GERMANY)
Classification of the pursuit (10km) – Sunday February 12, 2023
1- Julia Simon (FRA) in 32’00″8 (1 fault)
2- Denise Herrmann-Vick (ALL) à 27″ (4)
3- Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (NOR) à 37″7 (3)
4- Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR) at 1’00″3 (3)
5- Sophia Schneider (ALL) at 1’08″3 (4)
6- Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) at 1’08″7 (1)
7- Tereza Vobornikova (RTC) at 1’12″9 (2)
8- Hanna Kebinger (GER) at 1’21″5 (2)
9- Sophie Chauveau (FRA) at 1’23″6 (3)
10- Linn Persson (SUE) at 1’27″3 (3)
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19- Chloé Chevalier (FRA) at 2’16″6 (4)
23- Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet (FRA) at 2’47″6 (5)
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