Perrot Takes Victory, Leads French Biathlon Double in Kontiolahti
Published on December 8, 2024 at 4:56 p.m. – updated on December 8, 2024 at 5:03 p.m.
Eric Perrot dominated the Kontiolahti mass start this Sunday, achieving a French double with Quentin Fillon-Maillet. The winner of the day also scored a double blow, also taking the yellow bib as leader of the World Cup.
French biathletes are off to a flying start this season! Following on the heels of Emilien Jacquelin’s sprint triumph, Eric Perrot dominated the mass start in Kontiolahti this Sunday, leading a French 1-2 finish. Perrot, displaying exceptional shooting accuracy with only one miss (19/20), quickly established himself at the front alongside Quentin Fillon-Maillet. While Fillon-Maillet, the individual Olympic champion, couldn’t overcome one final target error, Perrot never faltered, securing his second career victory.
Victory and Yellow Bib for Perrot
“I don’t have the words,” Perrot said after the race, visibly emotional. “It’s such a joy to win here. Everything clicked for me today, both in the shooting and on the skis.”
The victory propelled Perrot straight to the top of the World Cup standings, surpassing Sturla Laegreid by a mere point. Laegreid, the previous leader, had to settle for third place. Next week, all eyes will be on Hochfilzen, Austria, where Perrot will look to defend his newfound leadership position.
Fillon-Maillet and Jacquelin in the Hunt
Fillon-Maillet, currently fifth overall with 136 points, will be out for redemption in Hochfilzen. Close behind in fourth place with 144 points is Emilien Jacquelin, who finished a respectable 14th in the mass start. Both Frenchmen pose a significant threat to Perrot’s reign.
Further down the standings, Antonin Guigonnat and Fabien Claude finished in 18th and 19th place, respectively. The Norwegian contingent, however, demonstrated their strength, securing six spots within the top 10. Tarjei Boe finished eighth, edging out his brother Johannes by one position.
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What are the implications of the French team’s strong start to the biathlon season?
## Perrot Shines in Kontiolahti, French Biathlon Dominates
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! Today we’re talking about a thrilling win in the biathlon world. Joining us is Alex Reed, our biathlon expert.
Alex Reed, we saw an incredible performance from French biathlete Eric Perrot this weekend in Kontiolahti. Can you tell us about his victory?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely! It was a fantastic race. Perrot absolutely dominated the mass start, leading the pack and ultimately securing a French double with Quentin Fillon-Maillet coming in second. This is a monumental win for Perrot, showing his strength and consistency on the track.
**Host:** It wasn’t just the victory, though. Perrot also claimed the yellow bib, taking the lead in the World Cup standings. What does this mean for his season?
**Alex Reed:** This puts Perrot in a very strong position. Leading the World Cup after a strong start like this is a huge confidence booster. It shows he’s in top form and a serious contender for the overall title. However, the season is long, and there are many more races to come.
**Host:** Absolutely. And what about the overall performance of the French team? They seem to be unstoppable.
**Alex Reed:** They are definitely on fire! With Perrot and Fillon-Maillet leading the charge, the French team is a force to be reckoned with. They have deep talent and are pushing each other to excel. It’s going to be a very exciting season to watch them compete. [[1](https://www.lequipe.fr/Biathlon/Actualites/Eric-perrot-vainqueur-de-la-mass-start-de-kontiolahti-j-ai-repondu-present/1525338)]
**Host:** Well, we’ll certainly be keeping our eyes on the French team and Eric Perrot’s journey this season. Thanks for breaking it down for us, Alex Reed.
