Martin Fourcade snatches sprint World Cup and record seventh overall title
BySportsbeat
Updated 22/03/2018 at 16:44 GMT
Five-time Olympic champion Martin Fourcade snatched the Biathlon World Cup sprint title from rival Johannes Thingnes Boe's grasp with a powerful final run in Tyumen, while also clinching a record seventh overall crystal globe.
Martin Fourcade from France celebrates on the podium after winning the IBU Biathlon World Cup Men 12,5 km Pursuit Competition in Holmenkollen, Oslo, March 17, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Thingnes Boe held a 31-point lead over Fourcade in the sprint standings ahead of the eighth and final leg of the World Cup.
But, a model of consistency, Fourcade extended his record of making the podium in every World Cup race he has competed in this season, taking first, as Thingnes Boe placed 14th to win the title by two points. Germany's Arnd Peiffer was ranked third overall.
Frenchman Fourcade, who won three gold medals in PyeongChang, posted a time of 25 minutes 49 to assure him of victory and a 60-point haul.
That left Thingnes Boe knowing a top-12 place would be enough to add a crystal globe to his 20km individual Olympic title.
But his abject shooting in changing conditions left him to settle for 14th place, a full 1.22.4 behind the champion.
Fourcade was joined on the podium by compatriot Simon Desthieux, 33.2 seconds further back, while Sweden’s Fredrik Lindstroem was third.
The victory also means that Thingnes Boe cannot catch Fourcade in the overall standings, with the Frenchman becoming the first man ever to win seven overall titles, moving one clear of the great Ole Einar Bjorndalen.
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