France get another biathlon women's relay win in Germany

The French women topped a women's biathlon World Cup relay in Germany for the second time in four days on Wednesday while mighty Norway met disaster.

Lou Jeanmonnet, Jeanne Richard (in for World Cup leader Justine Braisaz-Bouchet), Sophie Cheauveau and Julia Simon dominated the 4x6 kilometres event in southern Germany 8.7 seconds ahead of Sweden.

Hosts Germany recovered from fifth on Sunday in Oberhof to finish third, 46.7 seconds off the pace. The Germans had led at the final exchange but Hanna Kebinger had to bow to Simon and Hanna Öberg.

Norway, winners of the first two season relays and second on Sunday, where out of contention when their first skier, Marit Ishol Skogan, had two penalty laps.

They never recovered and had to settle for 10th with a deficit of more than three minutes in the last relay before next month's world championships at the Czech venue of Nove Mesto.

Scheduled for Thursday in Ruhpolding is a men's relay where Norway are unbeaten in 10 World Cup events. Their last defeat in the series came two years ago at the same venue when an under-strength team finished seventh, with Russia top.