Fifteenth in the first winter race on Tuesday, an individual 20 km, the five-time Beijing Olympic medalist and holder of the big crystal globe this time ranked fourteenth in the sprint, pushed back more than 1 min 15 sec from the Norwegian (1:16.3 precisely), when both missed a target on the launch pad.

This confirms his serious difficulties at the moment on skis.

"I didn't expect to win a minute on skis overnight and compete with Johannes" but "I'm sure I'm disappointed because I gave my maximum", admitted "QFM".

"I am not surprised by the state of form but disappointed not to play in front, he summed up. I hope it will come because last year, with 9/10 (shooting), I could hope for a victory. There, I am far from the podium."

"When you play a crystal globe, it always loses points," noted the 30-year-old from the Jura.

It is already the yellow bib of the leader of the general classification on the back that Boe will set off on Sunday at the head of the pursuit, the last race of the Finnish week.

"I haven't lost my form in one summer, noted Fillon Maillet, however. I'm happy with my preparation, it went well. At some point, the work will pay off."

"Round the back"

"I don't think I made any mistakes. There were other problems with my new status, but that was not a constraint in my preparation, he added. I remain + focus + on the rest while waiting for a better shape and track profiles that suit me better."

Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bo, winner of the biathlon sprint in Kontiolahti in Finland on December 3, 2022. © Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva/AFP

No doubt for Boe: he is already in great shape.

Disappointing twelfth in the individual on Tuesday, he won his first individual victory of the season after the 10 km sprint.

Despite a penalty lap, he beat his compatriot Sturla Laegreid, author of a clear round, by 10 sec 5/10e.

The German Roman Rees completes the podium (+28.8).

Fifth less than 40 seconds behind the Norwegian on Saturday, with a shooting fault, and in ambush before the pursuit, Emilien Jacquelin held up the shock much better than Fillon Maillet on the track but had much the same speech.

Norwegian Sturla Holm Laegreid who finished second in the biathlon sprint event in Kontiolahti in Finland on December 3, 2022 © Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva/AFP

"You have to take your pain patiently and wait for the sensations to improve. The French, we are more the type to increase in power, especially as soon as we find a little altitude", as in Hochfilzen (Austria) and in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) the next two weeks, he noted, with reference to the Scandinavians.

"You have to round your back and not look for noon at two o'clock either, abounded Fabien Claude, in the same waters as "QFM" on Saturday. There were three races, two individual, there will be a shovel . We have to stay the course."

The men's pursuit is scheduled for Sunday at 1:15 p.m. local time (12:15 p.m. French time).

© 2022 AFP