The French biathlon team impressively proved that it is one of the best in the world at the World Cup opener in Kontiolahti 2024. With a combination of precision at the shooting range and exceptional strength on the track, the team secured several podium places and celebrated a successful start to the 2024/25 season.

Dominance in the relay competitions

• Men's relay (4 x 7.5 km):
  The French quartet, consisting of Fabien Claude, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Éric Perrot and Émilien Jacquelin, delivered an almost perfect performance. Thanks to clean shooting and strong skiing times, they were able to relegate Norway to second place and win the race ahead of Sweden. This victory underlines the strength and team spirit of the French men's relay team, which is likely to play a decisive role again this season.
• Mixed relay (4 x 6 km):
  In a thrilling race, the French team took second place. Only the outstanding team from Norway was faster on this day. With a solid performance, especially in the shooting range, France finished ahead of Sweden, once again demonstrating its versatility in the various competition formats.

Success in the individual competitions

• Women's individual sprint (12.5 km):
  Lou Jeanmonnot was the surprise of the day. With a flawless shooting performance and impressive speed on the track, she won the race convincingly and secured her first World Cup victory. This triumph marks an important milestone in her career and proves that France's women's team is also in excellent shape.
• Men's 10 km Sprint:
  Émilien Jacquelin triumphed in the sprint against strong competition. With just one mistake in the shooting range and one of the fastest running times, Jacquelin showed why he is one of the favourites for the overall World Cup. His victory earned valuable points for the overall World Cup ranking and was another highlight of the weekend.
• Men's 15 km Mass Start:
  Éric Perrot, one of the young talents in the French team, caused a stir in the mass start. With a cool head at the shooting range and an impressive final lap, he left all his competitors behind and took the victory. This success shows that the next generation is also ready to take up the legacy of the experienced athletes.

A successful start to the season

With a total of three victories and several podium finishes, the season opener has been more than successful for the French biathlon team. The results reflect not only the hard work of the athletes, but also the strength of the coaching and support staff. France has presented itself in Kontiolahti as one of the leading biathlon nations and has set a clear signal for the upcoming competitions.