Fourcade wins biathlon World Cup sprint race

SOCHI, Russia: Martin Fourcade of France claimed his eighth biathlon World Cup victory of the season Saturday by winning the men’s 10-kilometer sprint race on the Sochi Olympic course.
Fourcade retained the overall World Cup title by winning the individual race on Thursday, and equaled his number of victories from last season with Saturday’s triumph.
The Frenchman dominated the race from the start and clocked 25 minutes, 17.3 seconds to beat Russia’s Yevgeny Ustyugov by 42.3 seconds. Henrik L’Abee-Lund of Norway shot cleanly but finished third, 51.0 seconds behind Fourcade for his first career individual World Cup podium finish.
“I’m in really good shape right now, and if I shoot cleanly it’s difficult for my opponents to beat me,” Fourcade said. “But one would be a fool to speak about any domination in the biathlon. Everything is possible in the sport. “Summing up the result of today’s race, I must admit that I’m very happy to be at the top of the podium. It was my fifth straight podium finish.” Fourcade also clinched the sprint title with his second win and sixth podium finish in the discipline this season. He won the individual crown on Thursday and has a chance to claim all four discipline titles as he leads the pursuit and mass start standings as well.
“I’m most proud of holding the yellow bib from the first race to the last one,” Fourcade said. “My goal now is to take all five crystal globes with me back to France.”