Biathlon: six girls in the running for two World Cup places
A few weeks ago, Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, revealed in these columns that the last two women’s tickets for the start of the 2025/2026 World Cup would be up for grabs at the FFS selections in Bessans (Savoie).
Scheduled to run from 15 to 18 November, the races will feature two sprints and a mass-start.
With that announced, the names of the biathletes taking part in the World Cup race to accompany Julia Simon, Jeanne Richard, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Océane Michelon and Lou Jeanmonnot to Östersund (Sweden) at the end of November had yet to be announced .
The best two results from the three Bessan races will be taken into account
“The girls who can compete for these two places are those who finished last season in the top 10 of the overall IBU Cup rankings,” Stéphane Bouthiaux told Nordic Magazine at the start of October.
They are Camille Bened, Paula Botet, Gilonne Guigonnat, Amandine Mengin, Sophie Chauvea and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, only the last of whom has yet to taste the highest international level. All the biathletes in question are members of the French B team.
“The selection will be made on the basis of the three races in Bessans, with the best two being selected,” says the head of French biathlon, who adds that these tickets will be valid for the first two stages of the World Cup.
Before Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie), as they did last winter, Les Bleues will lose a quota, dropping from seven to six biathletes competing in the individual races.
The names of the Frenchwomen vying for the last two World Cup places
- Paula Botet – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Sophie Chauveau – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Camille Bened – Ski Club Chablais Nordic (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Voldiya Galmace-Paulin – Ski Club Villard sur Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Gilonne Guigonnat – Ski Club Villard sur Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Amandine Mengin – La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
The full Bessans FFS selection programme
Saturday 15 November
- women’s U21/SEN 7.5 km sprint
- Men’s U21/SEN 10 km sprint
Sunday 16 November
- women’s U21/SEN 10 km mass-start
- mass-start 12.5 km U21/SEN men
Tuesday 18th November
- women’s U21/SEN 7.5 km sprint
- Men’s U21/SEN 10 km sprint
- The last men’s place awarded to Geilo, two women’s tickets at stake in Bessans: we know where and when the French team selections will take place for the start of the World Cup.
- Three races in four days, two sprints and a mass-start: the programme and dates for the traditional FFS selections in Bessans.
