Kontiolahti (Finland) (AFP)
The Frenchwoman Julia Simon won the first victory of her career in the Biathlon World Cup on Saturday, winning the pursuit of Kontiolahti, the big crystal globe going to the Italian Dorothea Wierer.
The young biathlete from Les Saisies (23), who had already distinguished herself this season by two podiums, was very solid with the rifle despite a violent wind on the shooting range (2 faults), advancing by 17 sec 3 / 10th Swiss Selina Gasparin and 20 sec 9/10 Italian Lisa Vittozzi.
This second success among the ladies, after that of Justine Braisaz, in December in Ostersund allows the Blue to complete on a high note a very complicated season, notably marked by World Cups of Anterselva missed in February (no medal).
Julia Simon offered her first victory, the day when the boss of French and world biathlon Martin Fourcade signed him his 83rd and last success in the last race of his career.
The duel for the gain of the big globe between Wierer and Tiril Eckhoff turned him to the advantage of the Italian (29 years old). Even though she turned five times on the penalty ring, Wierer limited the damage (11th), finishing just behind her Norwegian rival (10th) to win the world No. 1 globe for the second winter in a row.
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