Anterselva (Italy) (AFP)
Frenchman Quentin Fillon-Maillet took 3rd place in the Individual of Anterselva on Friday, counting for the Biathlon World Cup and won by Russian Alexander Loginov.
Fillon-Maillet (28) thus climbs for the third time this season on the podium (1 success) and is reassured after a checkered start to winter.
The Jurassian, author of an 18/20 shooting, snatched this 3rd position on the track on the last lap, finally ahead of the Italian Lukas Hofer (4th) by 1 / 10th of a second.
Largely behind in the general classification, which was his main objective, Fillon-Maillet boosts his morale within three weeks of the Pokljuka Worlds (February 10-21).
"I'm really happy, the sensations were strong when crossing the line, it was a huge satisfaction, said the leader of the Blues since the retirement of Martin Fourcade. I knew that the difference would be on the skis. am really beaten to the end. "
"I find better sensations on the skis but I am not yet able to fight against Johannes (Boe, note), he added. I hope that after this week of racing, I will find little strings to be in shape at the Worlds. Johannes and the Norwegians are not unbeatable, you just have to align all the planets, the form, the legs and the shot, to get some good races. shot at 20, I was in a position to win. So I have all the cards in hand to hope for wins. "
Loginov (28) has been untouchable in this race.
With a 20/20 rifle, the Russian, suspended for EPO use between 2014 and 2016, scored his first victory of the season, the third of his career.
Ultra-fast on skis but deficient in shooting (4 faults), the Norwegian Johannes Boe (10th) gave way at the top of the World Cup to his young compatriot and runner-up Sturla Holm Laegreid (23 years old), who finished 2nd.
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