Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, victorious in the mass start, scores a resounding hat-trick in Lenzerheide and becomes World Cup leader

The French women’s biathlon team is definitely doing very well. After Lou Jeanmonnot’s double in Östersund, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet strikes a little harder in Lenzerheide.

Winner of the sprint on Thursday, then the pursuit on Saturday, the comeback won the mass start on Sunday, December 17, in the Swiss resort. Justine Braisaz-Bouchet signed the perfect race (20/20 shooting) to complete a rare hat-trick. This success gives the Olympic mass start champion the lead in the general classification of the World Cup before the holiday break. Behind, Julia Simon, second the day before, narrowly missed the podium (6th), due to a mistake on the last lap.

With complete confidence, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet did not need anyone this time. If the 27-year-old biathlete had taken advantage of her lead gained in the pursuit, the recent mother dominated this mass start format. She barely experienced a slight scare on the last lap, when the Swedish sisters Elvira and Hanna Oeberg came back like arrows to reduce the gap. But the Saisies athlete was able to capitalize on an exceptional flawless performance on the shooting range and a very solid ski time (5^e) to keep a little more than five seconds ahead.

A happiness that does not arrive alone, her exceptional week in every way coupled with the fifth place of the day for the Norwegian Ingrid Tandrevold, gives her the lead in the general classification of the World Cup before the fourth stage of the winter, in Öberhof early 2024.