France win biathlon mixed relay world title to end Norway's dominance

DPA
·1 min read
(L-R) French biathletes Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eric Perrot celebrate their gold medal at the award ceremony of the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
(L-R) French biathletes Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eric Perrot celebrate their gold medal at the award ceremony of the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
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France ended Norway's success run in major biathlon mixed relay races when they beat them for the world championship gold medal on Wednesday.

Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Julia Simon could afford one penalty lap as they won the Nove Mesto championships opener over 4x6 kilometres 45.2 seconds ahead of Norway.

France won the event for the third time overall and first time since 2016 before Norway dominated at the last four worlds and 2022 Olympics.

But superstar Johannes Thingnes Bø and his team-mates had to settle for silver this time around. Sweden took bronze in difficult conditions in the form of driving rain and a soft course.

Germany led at the halfway mark but experienced Franziska Preuß had a penalty lap on the third leg from which the team never recovered and had to settle for fifth place.

The Nove Mesto worlds continue on Friday with the women's 7.5km sprint.

(L-R) Swedish biathletes Sebastian Samuelsson, Hanna Oeberg, Martin Ponsiluoma and Elvira Oeberg celebrate their the bronze medal after the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
(L-R) Swedish biathletes Sebastian Samuelsson, Hanna Oeberg, Martin Ponsiluoma and Elvira Oeberg celebrate their the bronze medal after the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
(L-R) Norwegian biathletes Tarjei Boe, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Karoline Offigstad Knotten and Johannes Thingnes Boe celebrate their silver medal after the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
(L-R) Norwegian biathletes Tarjei Boe, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, Karoline Offigstad Knotten and Johannes Thingnes Boe celebrate their silver medal after the mixed relay 4 x 7.5 km of the Biathlon World Championships in Czech Republic. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa