Anterselva (Italy) (AFP)
Russian Alexander Loginov won his first world champion title in Anterselva on Saturday, winning the sprint of the Biathlon Worlds ahead of the French Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Martin Fourcade.
Loginov (28), author of a rifle-free flaw, was 6.5 seconds ahead of Fillon-Maillet and 19.5 seconds ahead of Fourcade.
The Russian, suspended two years for doping between 2014 and 2016, was the dolphin of Johannes Boe in the general classification of the World Cup last season.
Loginov deprived Fillon-Maillet of a first world coronation on an individual level. The Jurassian, N.2 in the general classification of the World Cup behind Fourcade, passed very close to the victory but can blame himself for having missed a ball on his prone shot. Winner of the Pokljuka mass start at the end of January, the last race before the World Championships, he nevertheless confirmed his ramp-up observed since last season.
Fourcade was in line with his great performances for the month of January (4 successes), which allowed him to take the lead in the World Cup, with a magnificent 10/10 behind the rifle. The podiums of Fillon-Maillet and Fourcade, added to the 6th place of Emilien Jacquelin, reassure the French clan after the disappointments of the mixed relay (7th), Thursday, and the women's sprint, Friday.
The surprise came from Johannes Boe's poor performance. The Norwegian finished only 5th (1 rifle error).
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