Podium at the end of the suspense for the French, two weeks before the Beijing Olympics (from February 4 to 20). During a disjointed relay, in which France oscillated for a long time between 8th and 5th place, the Blue finally hung the podium behind Norway and Russia, Saturday January 22 in Antholz-Anterselva.
Last runner, Anaïs Bescond took advantage of a fall by the Czech Lucie Charvatova shortly before the last shot to snatch third place from the Italian Federica Sanfilippo.
For this last stint before the Olympics, the tricolor staff had lined up an unprecedented team: Chloé Chevalier, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Paula Botet – a first for the 21-year-old biathlete – and Anaïs Bescond.
To launch the relay, Chloé Chevalier delivered a clean and risk-free copy (a pickaxe). Set back on skis, she passed on the baton in 8th position, about thirty seconds behind the race leader. As fast on skis as imprecise in shooting (six pickaxes), Justine Braisaz-Bouchet kept the French team alive, ten seconds from the podium.
For her first stint in the World Cup, Paula Botet had the difficult task of staying close to the podium. Despite a complicated standing shot (three pickaxes), the young biathlete gave everything on the track to launch Anaïs Bescond in 5th position, who, with experience, took Les Bleues to the podium.
After their victory last week in Ruhpolding, in the absence of the Norwegian and Swedish cadors, the French women confirm their status as assumed contenders for the Olympic medal. On the four relays of the World Cup, the French women are always mounted on the box (two victories and two third places).