Jeanmonnot clinches biathlon World Cup title at site of 2025 agony
France's Lou Jeanmonnot crosses the finish line of the women's 7. 5 km sprint at the Biathlon World Cup in Holmenkollen. Heiko Junge/NTB/dpa French skier Lou Jeanmonnot shook off the heartbreak from last year when she clinched the biathlon overall World Cup title on Thursday in Oslo by finishing sixth in a sprint race won by Sweden's Hanna Öberg.
Jeanmonnot and Franziska Preuss battled for victory and the trophy in a dramatic final race in 2024-25 when Jeanmonnot fell in a sharp turn close to the finish line, which handed her now retired German rival the title. Victory was not needed on Thursday as Jeanmonnot stayed ahead of her last rival Suvi Minkinnen of Finland who placed 11th. Öberg claimed her 11th career victory, and sixth in a sprint, 5.
3 seconds ahead of Lisa Vittozzi and 20. 1 seconds clear of her sister, Elvira Öberg in soft conditions. All three shot clean.
Jeanmonnot trailed by 52 seconds with one missed target as she clinched the title with two races to spare in a consistent season with three victories and six further podiums. She was already assured of the sprint World Cup title before Thursday's race, has won the trophy in the individual event and is also a contender in the pursuit and mass start standings, with these races following on Saturday and Sunday. A men's sprint is scheduled for Friday in Oslo.
Sweden's Elvira Oeberg crosses the finish line of the women's 7. 5 km sprint at the Biathlon World Cup in Holmenkollen. Heiko Junge/NTB/dpa