Biathlon: the French in the IBU Cup are (already) aiming for the World Cup
It’s the big day. Since the start of their summer preparations, Antonin Guigonnat, Emilien Claude and Oscar Lombardot have been setting their sights on Thursday 28 November, the launch date of the 2024/2025 season of the IBU Cup circuit. These three biathletes have known for a long time that they would have to earn their place in the World Cup on this occasion.
More precisely, as revealed in our columns several months ago, it will be the two sprints at Idre Fjäll (Sweden), today’s and Saturday’s, that will enable the staff to decide between them.
Axel Garnier, Théo Guiraud-Poillot and Axel Garnier, who qualified for the IBU Cup via the Bessans (Savoie) selections, are also in the running. They are much less experienced and less well placed on the start lists, but barring any great feats, they could find it hard to get into the fray.
The two best in the two sprints will go up
“The top two should be selected for the World Cup in Kontiolahti, Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, told Nordic Magazine. I’m using the conditional tense because we always have the possibility of making a different decision insofar as there could be difficult conditions, such as a lot of wind, which could call the ranking into question.”
In what promises to be some very high-level races, with six starving Norwegians in particular, Les Bleus will have everything they need to shine. And in doing so, they will be hoping to secure one of the two places on the most prestigious of circuits.
From Saturday afternoon, the selected athletes will be travelling to Finland accompanied by Stéphane Bouthiaux. Their first World Cup race, the individual short, will arrive on Tuesday afternoon.
- Idre Fjäll: the start lists for the opening sprints of the 2024/2025 IBU Cup
- The last two men’s World Cup places will be decided in the sprints at the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll
- Firsts for Martin Botet, Axel Garnier and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin: the full French team selection for the IBU Cups in Idre Fjäll and Geilo
- “I’ll have to be a natural to produce my biathlon at 100% of what I know how to do”: Oscar Lombardot prepares to stake his place in the World Cup at the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll
- Théo Guiraud-Poillot’s ambitions a few days before the start of the IBU Cup: “I’m not necessarily aiming for the World Cup at the start of the season, but…”.
- “I’m on the way up and in great shape”: the joy of Axel Garnier from Haut-Savoie, who has qualified for the IBU Cup for the first time.
- “There’s a chance I’ll qualify, but it’s also possible I won’t make it through and my season won’t stop”: Emilien Claude’s state of mind ahead of the IBU Cup in Idre Fjäll, where he’ll be playing for his place in the World Cup.
- “I know that my form will improve as the races go on”: Anaëlle Bondoux, who was ill in Bessans after suffering concussion, remains confident ahead of the start of the IBU Cup.
- Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, aged just 19, on her first IBU Cup selection: “It’s really good to discover a new circuit, it makes you want to do it”.
- “We get on very well”: Anaëlle Bondoux and Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, the two French precociousness queens reunited at the IBU Cup
- Camille Bened, in fine form at the Bessans selection trials, tells Nordic Magazine: “I’m waiting to see if I can build on this over time to become very regular”.
