Fourcade gives France first biathlon worlds gold in mixed relay

 

Martin Fourcade added the elusive mixed relay biathlon

world title to his impressive collection when he anchored France to
the first gold of the 2016 championships Thursday.
Fourcade shook off German rival Simon Schempp in the closing stages
at the Holmenkollen ski centre as he triumphed together with Anais
Bescond, Marie Dorin Habert and Quentin Fillon Maillet in 1 hour 14
minutes 1.0 seconds over the 2x6 and 2x7.5-kilometres distance.
The German team, which also included Franziska Preuss, Franziska
Hildebrand and Arnd Peiffer, trailed by 4.3 seconds in second place.
Hosts Norway, made up of Marte Olsbu, Tiril Eckhoff, Johannes
Thingnes Boe and Tarjei Boe, were third on the podium with the
nation's King Harald V among the spectators.
The World Cup leader and holder Fourcade got his seventh world title
but first in the mixed relay, after two silvers and a bronze at past
editions. Bescond and Habert, who fell briefly shortly before the
third exchange, had in contrast been part of the French team that won
the event in 2009.
The world championships continue after a rest day with sprint races
for men and women on Saturday, and run until March 13.

2:45:00 PM