Les Bleues had not won on the circuit since January 19, 2019.
The French quartet were 57.9 seconds ahead of Belarus (Iryna Leshchanka, Dzinara Alimbekava, Elena Kruchinkina, Hanna Sola) and Sweden (Linn Persson, Mona Brorsson, Elvira Oeberg, Hanna Oeberg) by 1:09:06.
Well launched by Bescond, 2nd in the pursuit on Saturday, France took the lead shortly before the halfway mark following a great massacre among their rivals during the standing shot of the second relay runners.
Norway (1 lap), Italy (1 lap) and Sweden (2 laps) had to turn on the penalty ring, leaving Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet alone in front.
Julia Simon (10/10 shooting), yet in great difficulty at the start of the season, then Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (9/10) then managed to maintain the large French lead.
After two delicate years, the Bleues confirmed with this success their return to the foreground, materialized by three podiums in four individual races (2 for Chevalier-Bouchet, 1 for Bescond).
© 2021 AFP