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Oslo: Oeberg concludes solo

Despite complicated conditions, Hanna Oeberg was able to be sufficiently accurate in shooting to win the Mass Start at Oslo-Holmenkollen, the last World Cup race of the season, ahead of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet. Fifth, Julia Simon adds the small Crystal Globe to her collection.

Hanna Oeberg made it a point of honor to end the season well. The Swede dominated the Mass Start of Oslo-Holmenkollen, disputed in a fog which grew thicker as the race progressed. Bib number 1 on the shoulders and assured of the big Crystal Globe of the general classification of the World Cup, Julia Simon assumed her status from the start by leading the pack at a good pace. However, if she did not miss any targets during the first prone shot, the biathlete from Les Saisies was not as fast as Hanna Oeberg and resumed the track in second position with Lisa Vittozzi on her heels. A first shot that smiled on Lou Jeanmonnot, who also made a clear round, but not on Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, forced to take a penalty lap and start fourteenth. The second loop saw a regroup at the head of the race with eight biathletes separated by only three seconds on the second pass against the targets. This time it was Julia Simon who took the lead over Hanna Oeberg as a leading trio broke away.

H. Oeberg untouchable, Roeiseland pulled the chestnuts from the fire

Indeed, Lou Jeanmonnot was only about ten seconds late when the rest of the pack was clocked in at almost 30 seconds. The fog then began to intensify on the hill overlooking Oslo, making the shooting conditions much less obvious during the first standing pass. And one of those who suffered is Julia Simon. Missing her first and last ball, the world number 1 fell to fifth place almost 50 seconds from an untouchable Hanna Oeberg rifle in hand. The Swede approached the penultimate loop of 2500 meters with a little more than ten seconds ahead of Lou Jeanmonnot when the German Hanna Kebinger completed the provisional Top 3 just under 30 seconds. Without managing her effort, Hanna Oeberg widened the gap on the Habs when Julia Simon made the necessary effort to move up to third place. Failing on her last ball, the Swede opened the door to her rivals… but no one took advantage of it. Lou Jeanmonnot completely broke down with four faults when Julia Simon had to take two additional penalty laps. Whitewashing all his targets in far from obvious conditions, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland moved into second place just over fifteen seconds behind.

Simon adds another small Crystal Globe to his collection

Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, meanwhile, only spun once on that last shot, was able to put pressure on Hanna Kebinger for third place. Assuring during the last 2500 meters, Hanna Oeberg crossed the finish line victoriously just under 20 seconds ahead of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, who savored the home stretch of his career in front of his home crowd. Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet knew how to make the difference to get a good third place before she too hung up her skis and rifle. Julia Simon, meanwhile, finished like a rocket to dislodge Dorothea Wierer from fifth place and secure the small Crystal Globe of the discipline, which is added to that of the pursuit and to the big Crystal Globe of the general classification. After his last catastrophic shot, Lou Jeanmonnot finished 18th when Chloé Chevalier took 24th place with four faults. Caroline Colombo (27th) and Sophie Chauveau (30th) had a very complicated race, each missing eight targets. Between tributes to retirees and end-of-season celebrations, this last Mass Start ended in a good-natured atmosphere in front of the conquered Norwegian public.

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