Biathlon: a weekend against the best Norwegians for the French men’s team
This weekend, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin will find out. What will they know? Whether they are fit and in the mood two weeks before the start of the 2024/2025 Biathlon World Cup. Having taken part in the sprint and mass-start of the Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen (Norway) to round off their final preparation camp, Les Bleus are indeed looking for a fight.
“That’s why we’re here, to get a feel for the Norwegians and confront them, their coach Simon Fourcade explained to Nordic Magazine. It’s going to be one of the toughest line-ups of the season, with the top seven overall finishers from last season as well as the entire Norwegian B team and those who aren’t in the groups and who could go on to the World Cup. When you know how crowded Norway is, you know that these will be very high-level races.”
Up against Johannes Thingnes Boe, Tarjei Boe, Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, Endre Stroemsheim, Sturla Holm Lægreid and others all weekend, as well as the Italians and Dmytro Pidruchnyi, the French will be looking to shine at the start of the winter.
“We’re clearly here to gain confidence, especially as we’re in a fairly comfortable situation because we have nothing to play for, says Simon Fourcade. We’ll see at the end of the weekend if the work we’ve put in pays off. We’re not at the same level of preparation as the Norwegians, who are playing their selection games this weekend, but we’re in pretty good shape, especially as I think we’re a little bit further ahead than last year.”
“These will be two great test races”
At the Sjusjøen Arena Natrudstilen, the Catalan coach would like to see his biathletes “ validate all the work they have put in” this summer and autumn.
“The idea is really to validate this over the weekend’s races so that we can look ahead to the next two weeks without any doubts, he explains. What’s more, we’ll be taking part in two races with an ideal configuration, as there will be a time-trial sprint followed by a mass-start with direct confrontation without the gaps of a chase. These will be two great test races. The aim is to be there and to be present in these races.”
“It’s going to be a real mouth-watering start to the season because we’re going to be up against the Norwegians on the best national circuit in the world. We’ll be trying to raise our game. I can’t wait to see where we are in terms of preparation, admitted Quentin Fillon-Maillet before setting off for Norway. I’m happy with it so far, but I don’t know if it’s good or very good compared to the Norwegians.”
In any case, Les Bleus – with the exception of Eric Perrot, who has decided to stay in Sjusjøen before the start of the World Cup – will return to France from midday on Monday. Departure for Kontiolahti (Finland) is set for 26 November.
- The full programme of Norwegian opening races at Sjusjøen in which the French will be taking part
- “The signs are pretty much green for everyone”: Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin training on the snow at Sjusjøen
- Norwegian opening races in Sjusjøen: who will French riders Julie Baverel, Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin be up against?
