Jeanmonnot Claims Third World Cup Win at Ruhpolding, Strengthens Lead Before Olympics

January 18, 2026
Jeanmonnot Claims Third World Cup Win at Ruhpolding, Strengthens Lead Before Olympics
  • Lou Jeanmonnot of France won the Ruhpolding women's biathlon pursuit, extending her lead in the World Cup standings less than three weeks before the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

  • This victory marks Jeanmonnot’s third individual World Cup win of the season and cements her position near the top of the overall standings heading toward the Olympics.

  • Camille Bened finished 13 seconds behind the winner with a perfect 20/20 shooting in the race.

  • The Ruhpolding event ran over five days to a large, enthusiastic crowd, with an atmosphere highlighted by fans and banners.

  • Océane Michelon surged from 32nd to finish sixth, illustrating depth in the French team.

  • The pursuit began at 12:30 local time.

  • The race was broadcast on L’Équipe and Eurosport, providing live coverage.

  • Post-race, Jeanmonnot emphasized the importance of a strong final shoot and admitted room for improvement on that last shot, while recording overall satisfaction with her form.

  • Jeanmonnot started second, eight seconds behind Hannah Öberg, shot 5/5 in the prone stage while rivals incurred penalties, enabling an early and growing lead.

  • She narrowed the final gap to zero before the last standing shoot, missed one target (19/20) but still finished ahead of Öberg in a dominant sprint finish.

  • Camille Bened claimed a podium with a perfect 20/20 rifle score, signaling strong Olympic form for individual events.

  • The event served as a confidence-building step for athletes ahead of the Olympics, which begin on February 8 in South Tyrol.

Summary based on 4 sources


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