Norway’s Grand Slam Victory at Soldier Hollow: Redemption in World Cup Relay

The grand slam and a revenge for Norway. This Friday at Soldier Hollow, the men in black won the fifth and final men’s World Cup relay of the winter. They had won the previous four and therefore won the specialty globe, already assured for them before the trip to the United States. They thus wash away the affront of the World Championships in Nove Mesto, on February 17, where the promised gold went to Sweden, only 5th this time (+1’46”). Italy (+26″) and Germany (+27″) completed the podium while France sank in front of the targets (8th and 3’35” behind).

In the absence of Quentin Fillon Maillet, left to rest and replaced by Antonin Guigonnat as finisher, the Blues completed four penalty rounds and used 13 picks, the lowest shooting score among the 19 ranked nations. Everything started very well for the World bronze medalists. In great form and despite 3 picks, Fabien Claude even took his team into 1st position at the end of the first relay, accompanied only by the Czech Republic.

Tarjei Boe’s fantastic comeback

At that moment, we were more worried… about Norway. Alone in the lead when setting up for the standing shot, Sturla Laegreid indeed experienced an XXL crack by starting three times on the penalty ring. And it was in 18th position, 1’05” behind France, that he launched Tarjei Boe. But as often, the latter got his team back on track. We can even speak of a fantastic comeback since at the At the end of its passage (1 pick, best skiing time with 20″ better than Giacomel), Norway was already back on the box (3rd at 36″).

Three penalty laps: Laegreid’s astonishing crack

Two rounds each for Jacquelin and Perrot

At the same time, Emilien Jacquelin collapsed in an almost perfect copy and paste of Laegreid (faultless in the prone position then two rounds in the standing position). He therefore gave up the lead at the end of his second lap and even lost a lot in the last lap, where Tarjei Boe took him back and put him down in a flash. Nothing was lost for France, still 7th at mid-race (+1’06”). But from his first shot, Eric Perrot also took two penalty laps, definitively burying the French chances. Antonin Guigonnat ( 3 picks) thus had nothing left to gain when it came time to start (10th at 2’52”). But he was able to put the Blues back in 8th place in the final, with the Finn Invenius depriving him of 7th place in the sprint.

In front, far in front, Johannes Boe made the difference thanks to a 10/10 and a level of skiing in line with his standards. He was able to launch Vetle Christiansen with a 36″ lead over the United States, who delighted the public by playing for the podium until the last shot (4th at the finish, +1’30”). Christiansen did not crack (1 pick). Victory could no longer escape him after his standing shot. Norway therefore achieves the grand slam in the men’s relay World Cup. But without the world title at stake. Exactly like last year.

2024-03-08 21:15:00
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