Oslo, Norway – Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway edged out France’s Eric Perrot in a photo finish at the Oslo Holmenkollen Men’s 12.5km Pursuit on Saturday, but the day ultimately belonged to Perrot, who clinched the Pursuit World Cup title. The race, a nail-biter from start to finish, saw Laegreid and Perrot battling stride for stride, ultimately decided by mere centimeters.
The victory marks Laegreid’s seventh consecutive win including relays, and extends his streak of podium finishes to thirteen. However, the bigger story of the day was Perrot’s consistent performance throughout the season, culminating in the coveted crystal globe. He had already secured the overall World Cup title on Friday, adding to his collection of discipline titles including the Pursuit and Individual globes, as well as the Mass Start title.
The finish was so close that officials needed a photo review to determine the winner. Both Laegreid and Perrot finished with a time of 30:31.4. It was a clean shooting performance from Laegreid that ultimately propelled him to the top of the podium on this occasion. The drama unfolded after Hanna Oeberg and Julia Simon delivered a similarly close finish in the women’s race earlier in the day, setting the stage for an exciting afternoon of biathlon.
Emilien Jacquelin, also of France, rounded out the podium in third place, finishing 23.2 seconds behind the leaders. Jacquelin had two penalties during the race, but still managed a strong performance. This result elevates Jacquelin in the overall standings, placing him fifth.
Perrot’s success this season has been built on consistency. He secured four race wins and consistently placed among the top finishers, creating an insurmountable lead in the overall World Cup standings with two races remaining. His triumph follows that of teammate Lou Jeanmonnot, who claimed the women’s overall World Cup title earlier in the week.
The Oslo Holmenkollen event has proven to be a pivotal moment in the biathlon season. The venue, famed for its challenging course and enthusiastic crowds, provided a fitting backdrop for these dramatic contests. The atmosphere was electric as fans witnessed both a thrilling race and the crowning of a World Cup champion.
Prior to the pursuit race, Laegreid had already claimed the sprint discipline title, narrowly edging out Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson. The two were tied on points, but Laegreid’s greater number of race wins proved to be the deciding factor. Samuelsson finished seventh in the sprint race on Friday.
Looking ahead, the biathlon season will conclude with a mass start race on Sunday. While the overall titles have been decided, the final race offers an opportunity for athletes to finish the season on a high note and potentially impact their final standings. The French team, having enjoyed significant success at both the Olympics in Milan-Cortina and throughout the World Cup season, will be looking to continue their momentum.
The consistent success of the French biathletes, alongside Laegreid’s impressive form, has made for a captivating season. Fans can expect another exciting competition as the season draws to a close in Oslo.
The next event is the mass start race on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. Stay tuned to Archysport for full coverage and updates.
