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France's Julia Simon celebrates winning the women's 12.5 km mass start competition of the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti. Minna Raitavuo/Lehtikuva/dpa
France's Julia Simon won the women's 12.5-kilometre mass start in the biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti on Saturday.
Simon led the way in 34 minutes 40.0 seconds despite missing one target to claim her first World Cup victory since she won 15km gold at the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics last month.
"After the Olympics, I felt really tired. Today, I asked my coach to come and talk, to try to give me a motivation speech and it worked. I felt really confident after the prone because I just wanted to enjoy and have fun," Simon said.
"I'm really happy with this race. It was a difficult morning, and I am really happy to manage it."
Elvira Öberg of Sweden was second, 5.6 seconds behind and with two missed targets, while team-mate Anna Magnusson was third.
Oceane Michelon, who won mass start gold at Milan/Cortina was sixth, while World Cup leader Lou Jeanmonnot was only 16th with three missed targets.
Norway beat top rivals France in the final men's 4x7.5km relay of the season.
The quartet of Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Johan-Olav Botn, Sturla Holm Lægreid and Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen needed to reload seven times but hit all targets and completed the course in 1 hour 13 minutes 30.7 seconds.
The Norwegians have won four of the five World Cup relays this season.
The French team, who claimed Olympic gold at the Milan/Cortina Games last month, were ahead with a six-second advantage before the final shooting range, but Christiansen gave Norway the lead before skiing to victory.
France finished 19.1 seconds behind Norway, while Sweden were third with one missed target.
The event in Kontiolahti concludes on Sunday with the women's 4x6km relay and the men's 15km mass start.
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France's Julia Simon competes in the women's 12.5 km mass start competition of the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti. Minna Raitavuo/Lehtikuva/dpa
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France's Julia Simon celebrates as she scrosses the finish line to win the women's 12.5 km mass start competition of the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti. Minna Raitavuo/Lehtikuva/dpa
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