World Cup. Kontiolahti: Julia Simon signs a nice top 5, Hanna Oeberg wins the individual
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Julia Simon, 5th at 1’11”9 (19/20, 9th ski time): “I really lack a bit of rhythm, I had a hard time leaving. I got expensive quite quickly in the first laps. But I tried not to panic, I told myself that I hadn’t left as I wanted, but I wanted my build to be shot and I’m very happy about that. There is this last ball which darkens the picture a little. I stayed focused for 19 balls and I’m out the last so there is this small point to improve but it’s still a very good run. Winter is on and rather in a good way. »
Lou Jeanmonnot, 12th at 2’21”7 (19/20): “I’m really happy to start with a 12th place. And beyond this result, my real victory today is to have won my place for tomorrow’s relay. An individual is the most open race. I knew that if I did a 19/20 or a 20/20, there was a way to make a top 20 or even a top 15. I’m happy. I had a hard time leaving, I had a lot of excitement but also stress. (On his run) I went inside, I had trouble finding my tempo. And in the 2nd round it was really better. On the last lap, I had a really hard time accelerating, it started to snow and things slowed down quite a bit. Technically, I feel that I have accelerated a lot, I manage to land my ski better, I am much more efficient. Before I tended to scatter and lose juice in all directions. »
Chloé Chevalier, 18th at 2’49”1 (17/20, 7th on skis): “I’m pleasantly surprised, I really enjoy myself on the skis. I had good feelings, I left at a good pace. Usually, I had a tendency to slump on the last step and today no, I was lucid throughout the race, applied. And very happy that it is paid. There was a little too much nervousness behind the rifle, I found it difficult to relax, to engage my shots and that means that I make small mistakes which are expensive. But it’s not catastrophic. That’s it, the season is over and I’ll be able to let go a little more. »
Anaïs Chevalier Bouchet, 30th at 3’56”9 (16/20 shooting, 8th skiing time): “The first races are never my speciality. I need to get started. It’s far from being a perfect race but I stuck to my plan from start to finish, accelerating over the laps no matter what happened to the shooting. Unfortunately, I leave with a 7/10 after the first two shots and shoot myself a big bullet in the foot. We know that on an individual it is complicated afterwards. But I didn’t drop anything in the face. It is the satisfaction of the day. It won’t show on the result sheet but in the intentions there were some great things and the rest can only be better. I think I’m in the nails physically. I didn’t suffer so that’s a pretty good sign. I think it will get better and better as the races go on.”