Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot on the podium of the Östersund mass-start
Julia Simon (26) remains in a good dynamic. The World Cup leader maintained a comfortable lead of 144 points in the quest for the big globe by taking 3rd place in the mass-start of Östersund (Sweden) on Sunday, behind her new runner-up in the general classification, Dorothea Wierer (1st), and another Frenchwoman, Lou Jeanmonnot (2nd).
With her yellow bib, the French first fully assumed her status, starting strong on skis, leading the pack until the first lying shot, where she achieved a clear round. Second in the general classification before the race, the Italian Lisa Vittozzi managed the issue much less well, committing two errors from the start and thus finding herself in last place. She eventually finished 18th.
Faster on skis than Wierer and Jeanmonnot (20/20 shooting), Simon paid for his only shooting error, during the last pit stop, standing. In 3rd position, she could only observe the battle for victory between the Italian and her teammate in the French team, Wierer taking the advantage on skis to win the mass-start and become Simon’s new hunter for the big globe.
Behind the two French women on the podium, Caroline Colombo took 5th place, Chloé Chevalier 10th, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet 15th, and Sophie Chauveau finished 26th.
