Cross-country skiing: “It must have been a real explosion of joy”, says Vincent Vittoz
Mathis Desloges‘ silver medal in the skiathlon at the Milan/Cortina Olympics will go down as a historic moment for French cross-country skiing. Vincent Vittoz, world champion in the pursuit in 2005, was one of those who witnessed it with particular intensity. At the time of the race, Vincent Vittoz was on a training course at the Centre National de Ski Nordique et de Moyenne Montagne (CNSNMM) in Prémanon (Jura)… A place where Mathis Desloges likes to spend a lot of time during his preparation.
“We were on a training camp with the young riders preparing for the U23 and U20 world championships. We were able to experience the race with the whole team, and it was really great fun. The fact that we got to experience it as a group, with the youngsters around us, obviously made it even more emotional”, Vincent Vittoz tells Nordic Magazine.
In front of the screen, the race quickly turns into a suspenseful scenario. The transition from classical to skateboarding takes its toll. “This transition did cause some damage. First Stenshagen, then even Amundsen who cracked on the first lap of the skating. Then we saw that there were five of them in front, including two Frenchmen. Naturally, at that point, you think there’s a real opportunity.
The adrenalin was pumping again when Mathis Desloges made a mistake on the course. A moment’s hesitation was quickly replaced by relief. “Mathis’s yellow card was obviously a bit of a special moment. But from the moment we saw that it was a yellow card, we thought that the jury had already made a decision. That was pretty reassuring.
The final package raises the pressure behind the screen. “It was obviously a great explosion of joy. And above all a collective explosion. The fact that I was with the young people, sharing it with them, made it all the more meaningful at the time.
“There has been a real know-how, a real continuity. And this continuity also helps to break down barriers.Vincent Vittoz at Nordic Magazine
But beyond the moment, Vincent Vittozinsists that this medal represents a milestone in the history of French skate cross-country. “In today’s men’s skiing, we know just how hard Norway is to beat. This race was the perfect opportunity. But above all, this medal is the result of all those years of work, of the team that has built up, with a solid technical staff.
The former cross-country skater talks about continuity, a word that comes up a lot in his speech. “I like to say that over the last twenty years or so, there has always been a men’s French cross-country skate collective. There has been a real know-how, a real continuity. And this continuity also helps to break down barriers. When I arrived in the World Cup, finishing 30th was fine. But even thinking about an Olympic medal seemed unimaginable.
“The more results we achieve, the lower the next step. And for young people, seeing that today is essential.Vincent Vittoz at Nordic Magazine
For him, it was a step-by-step process: “First there were the World Cup podiums, then the victories. Then there were the relays, which were beginning to assert themselves. The 2006-2010 relays finished fourth twice. That certainly enabled the next generation to turn a corner.
Today, Vincent Vittoz sees Mathis Desloges’ medal as another milestone, perhaps the most symbolic. “Each new step we take allows us to reach even higher. And today, Mathis went even higher. You get the feeling that there’s a real school here, a real know-how. And above all, a staff with the experience to support these young people. The more results you achieve, the easier it is to climb the next step. And for young people to see that today is essential,” concludes Vincent Vittoz.
Read also
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing – Mathis Desloges talks to Nordic Magazine after his historic silver medal in the skiathlon: “I’m the one wearing the medal, but we’re all entitled to it”.
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing – “We were scared”, “we screamed”, then “exploded with joy”: Mathis Desloges’ Olympic silver sends Team Vercors Isère into raptures
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing – “Completely shattered”: Mathis Desloges’ silver medal was too emotional to resist
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing – “It’s just crazy”: the emotion of Mathis Desloges in silver in the skiathlon
- Olympic Games 2026 | “I wasn’t able to achieve the finish I wanted”: the frustration of Hugo Lapalus, fifth in the Olympic skiathlon
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Emmanuel Macron congratulates Mathis Desloges
- Olympic Games 2026 | Cross-country skiing: 15 minutes before his silver medal, the moment when Mathis Desloges could have lost everything in the skiathlon
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Mathis Desloges becomes the second Frenchman to win an individual Olympic medal, the first over distance
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing: Mathis Desloges wins a splendid silver medal in the skiathlon, a triumph for Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo
- 2026 Olympic Games | Cross-country skiing – “It’s the event I’ve ticked off my list”: Mathis Desloges wants to make a big impact in the Olympic skiathlon
- 2026 Olympics | Cross-country skiing – “There are still pieces of it lying around in the snow”: the misadventure of Ebba Andersson, second in the skiathlon, with her medal
