Worn by Lisa Vittozzi, they were ahead of the Germans and the Swedes, while the French, victorious in two of the four relays of the season, failed at the foot of the podium.
Impressive, the Italians (Samuela Comola, Dorothea Wierer, Hannah Auchentaller, Lisa Vittozzi) finished the race with a total of only two picks, against six for the Germans and eleven and two penalty laps for the Swedes.
Vittozzi, who signed a clear round in the last standing shot, won a third medal after the bronze in the individual and single mixed relay.
The French (Lou Jeanmonnot, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, Chloé Chevalier, Julia Simon) could not imitate the men's relay, crowned world champion earlier
Despite a last relay provided by the pursuit world champion and World Cup leader Julia Simon, they finished in 4th place (12 picks, 1 penalty lap.
At the start of the afternoon, the French relay composed of Antonin Guigonnat, Fabien Claude, Émilien Jacquelin and Quentin Fillon Maillet had won in front of the big Norwegian favorites, depriving Johannes Boe of a possible sevenfold unprecedented during these Worlds.
Not celebrating individually since the start of the championships, the French men's team managed to pull out of the game amid the gusts of wind to win ahead of Norway, Olympic and world champion in title, victorious in the four relays contested since the start of the season.
Winner of five races during these Worlds (sprint, pursuit, individual, mixed relay and simple mixed relay), Johannes Boe had to settle for silver and saw his hopes of a sevenfold dash.
During the mass start on Sunday, however, he will be able to match his compatriot Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, seven times medalist (including five times gold) in as many races at the Worlds-2020.
© 2023 AFP