Biathlon: “There is rage”, new disappointment for Quentin Fillon Maillet who fails at the foot of the podium

Already on Saturday during the mixed relay, Quentin Fillon Maillet had achieved a huge performance. He stood out again this Sunday at the mass start in Antholz-Anterselva (Italy), the last meeting before the world championships in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic) from February 7 to 14.

It was perhaps at the best time of the season that the best French biathlete regained his sensations. Only one of the 30 competitors in the mass start to achieve a solid score in shooting, a splendid 20 out of 20, QFM was nevertheless unable to do anything against the Norwegian armada, which took five of the first six places.

Always well placed throughout the race, the Frenchman took the lead after the first standing shooting session. On the slopes, the Norwegians give you chills. Better, after the fourth shooting sequence, the Frenchman comes out in second place behind Vetle Christiansen with only ten seconds behind, but almost twenty seconds ahead of the fourth.

The podium seems within the Frenchman’s reach but the two Norwegian rockets of Johannes Dale-Skjevdal and Vebjoern Soerum literally put him down. By finishing fourth, Quentin Fillon Maillet does not hide his disappointment and especially his anger.

A ski problem according to Simon Fourcade

“I put my all into it today,” declared QFM on the L’Équipe channel. I am very satisfied with the shot. No need to know where I’m losing today. It’s a big disappointment, I wanted to look for the podium. But from the first lap, I felt that the glide was not very good. I focused on shooting with a 20 out of 20. Two years ago, people would put me on a pedestal and today criticism is easy. There is anger at the end of the race because I miss my first podium or even my first victory. »

Simon Fourcade, the coach of the French men’s team, prefers to be positive: “It’s not a physical problem but a sliding problem. If he doesn’t manage to take the podium, it’s not his fault but the technicians and we apologize to him. It’s nice to see that the attitude was the right one. This 4th place should not depress us but encourage us for the World Championships. »