France's Fourcade, Chevalier win biathlon World Cup pursuits
NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic (AP) Martin Fourcade was too good yet again in winning a 12.5-kilometer pursuit at a biathlon World Cup on Saturday. Fellow French skier Anais Chevalier was the women's 10-kilometer pursuit champion.
Following his victory in Thursday's sprint, Fourcade had to overcome one penalty lap after missing one target at the second shooting range. After he shot clean at the final shooting range, he was cheered on by 30,000 fans all the way to the finish line.
''It's a good feeling today,'' Fourcade said. ''There's too much talk about doping in biathlon and I'm happy to bring some joy to people.''
Second in the sprint, Russia's Anton Shipulin came second again, 30.2 seconds behind.
Quentin Fillon Maillet of France finished third, 38.3 back.
Fourcade leads overall with 408 points after winning six of the seven individual races. Shipulin was second with 281.
Chevalier started the women's race four seconds behind Friday's sprint winner, Tatiana Akimova of Russia, and pulled away after the third shooting range for her maiden World Cup victory.
After missing one target, Chevalier edged Italy's Dorothea Wierer, who missed two, by 9.5 seconds. Akimova was third, 19.4 seconds back.
On Friday, the rising star of the French biathlon claimed her first World Cup podium with her second-place finish.
Laura Dahlmeier of Germany leads the overall standings with 356 points, followed by Kaisa Makarainen of Finland with 278.
Mass start races are scheduled for Sunday.
