Only 14th in the sprint, the Frenchman is going through a complicated start to the season, especially since his Norwegian rival won this Saturday.
As in the opening race of the World Cup season on Tuesday, Quentin Fillon Maillet struggled to stay in the top 15 of the first sprint, dominated by his number 1 rival Johannes Boe, on Saturday in Kontiolahti (Finland).
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 1’15 ” of 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 save a minute on skis overnight and compete with Johannes” most “it is sure that I am disappointed because I gave my maximum“, recognized the Jura. “I’m not surprised by the state of form but disappointed not to play in front. 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».
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 did not lose my form in one summer, however noted Fillon Maillet. I’m happy with my preparation, it went well. At some point, the work will pay off. I don’t think I made any mistakes. There were other issues with my new status but that was not a constraint to my preparation, he added. I remain focused on the rest while waiting for a better form and track profiles that suit me better.No doubt for Boe: he is already in very good 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”5. The German Roman Rees completes the podium (+28”8).
Fifth less than 40 seconds behind the Norwegian on Saturday, with a shooting error, and in ambush before the chase, Emilien Jacquelin held up the shock much better than Fillon Maillet on the track but had much the same speech. “You have to be patient 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 Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) the next two weeks, he noted, with reference to the Scandinavians. “It is necessary to make the round back and not to seek either noon at two o’clock, abounded Fabien Claude, in the same waters as »QFM« Saturday. There were three races, two individual, there will be plenty. You have to stay the course.The men’s pursuit is scheduled for Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
