Biathlon: Les Bleus complete their first summer training camp
On Thursday morning, it was under the blue skies of the Vercors that the members of theFrench men’s biathlon team took part in their final shooting session at the Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère) facilities. And while a light breeze was also in the air, Simon Fourcade and Jean-Pierre Amat’s men were able to take part in what is known as a ‘speed’ session.
Combining shooting and short, quick bursts of effort, this training gave the Blues the opportunity to compete in pairs against the targets on a short section of the Isère track. Oscar Lombardot was voted best shooter of the morning.
This was followed by a final session where each athlete could concentrate on shooting or skiing technique to receive valuable advice from the coaching duo. “It’s the first training session and we had to take stock. In a speed session, you have to be there mentally,” Jean-Pierre Amat told Nordic Magazine. It reminds them that a shot can never be taken for granted and that you have to be there. Sometimes, when you relax, you rarely have the commitment you need for a shot.
To perform at their best, the Tricolores were also able to count on the facilities at ZeCamp, a sports and hotel complex based at the gates of theEspace biathlon ski-rouesdu Vercors: “The athletes appreciate being here. We keep logistics to a minimum and ZeCamp really misses us. This course will help us get back into the swing of things and the work has been good, with a high volume of hours,” adds Simon Fourcade.
And while three members of the team travelled to Orléans (Loiret) to take part in a reception with one of their sponsors on Thursday afternoon, the four remaining athletes will have one last intense session this Friday morning on the Saint-Egrève athletics track (Isère) in the Grenoble area.
The whole team will then meet up in Prémanon (Jura) on 30 June for the traditional tests at the CNSNMM ( Centre National de Ski Nordique et de Moyenne Montagne ).
Read also
- Biathlon: photo album of the Bleus’ final training sessions in Corrençon-en-Vercors
- Corrençon-en-Vercors training camp: images of the long 150 km cycling trip by Les Bleus
