Maren Kirkeeide claims first World Cup victory; Giacomel wins men’s mass start

Norwegian biathlete Maren Kirkeeide (22) secured the first World Cup victory of her career in Sunday’s women’s mass start at Le Grand‑Bornand, France, delivering a major statement six weeks before the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

After the fourth and final shooting, Kirkeeide left the range 14.1 seconds behind France’s Camille Bened, with home favorites Justine Braisaz‑Bouchet and Lou Jeanmonnot close behind. Kirkeeide steadily closed the gap to Bened and, on the run‑in, held off both French stars in a tense sprint to the line. She hit 19 of 20 targets and once again skied strongly, adding a win to the three World Cup podiums she had already collected this Olympic season.

Speaking to Discovery, Kirkeeide said she realized the win was possible on the last climb when the gap to the lead was small: she attacked, created a small gap, and managed to keep it to the finish. “It’s very fun,” she said.

Norway also recorded other solid results: Karoline Knotten finished 8th, and Marthe Kråkstad Johansen was 12th after missing just one target on her final shooting. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold did not start the mass start.

The race was the final World Cup before Christmas; only three World Cup weekends remain before the Olympics begin on 6 February. Norway’s final Olympic roster will be named after the Ruhpolding round in January.

In the men’s mass start later in the day, Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel took the win, with France’s Eric Perrot second. Norway’s Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen produced a blistering final lap to claim third. World Cup leader Johan‑Olav Botn placed fifth, Johannes Dale‑Skjevdal sixth, Sturla Holm Lægreid 12th, Isak Frey 15th, and Sivert Bakken—returning from illness—20th.