Biathlon: the U22s from the Bessans French Cup head for the Junior Cup
This Saturday and Sunday, the first stage of the French Biathlon Cup, organised in Bessans (Savoie) over a sprint and a short individual event, will enable the technical staff to make some important selections. Two weeks after the IBU Cup, the Junior Cup will be at stake.
In these Savoyard races, seven places for men and women will be up for grabs for the Ridnaun-Val Ridanna (Italy) and Goms (Switzerland) stages scheduled before Christmas. However, there’s a slight subtlety to the selection process, as it has been decided to include a new feature: reserving two places for U19s.
“In practice, if there are two or more U19s in the top seven, they will all be selected, explains Stéphane Bouthiaux, the head of French biathlon, to Nordic Magazine. However, if the top two U19s are outside the top 7, only the top five U22s will be selected to make way for the U19s.”
Showing off your best side
As well as individual victories on the national circuit, one of the toughest in the world, the challenge for the biathletes who did not qualify for the launch of the IBU Cup will be to show themselves at their best.
However, this weekend is unlikely to be a qualifier for the B circuit, as the races at Les Saisies (Savoie) on 14 and 15 December are more important and better placed, a week before the Obertilliach (Austria) leg.
Finally, for those athletes who qualify, the qualification period for the World University Games in Turin (Italy), scheduled from 14 to 22 January, begins. A secondary objective for many, this competition could end up being a great lifeline for some if the winter gets off to a difficult start.
The full programme for the French Biathlon Cup in Bessans (Savoie)
Saturday 30th November
- 8.30am-9am: weapons check and ski removal
- 9.00am-9.50am: U19/U22/Senior Men shooting trials
- 10.00am: U19/U22/Seniors men 10km sprint
- 11.15am: prize-giving ceremony
- 11.45am-12.15pm: weapons check and ski removal
- 12.15pm-1.05pm: U19/U22/Senior women shooting trials
- 1.15pm: U19/U22/Women’s Seniors 7.5km sprint
- 2.30pm: prize-giving ceremony
Sunday 1st December
- 8.30am-9am: weapons check and ski removal
- 9.00am-9.50am: U19/U22/Senior Men shooting trials
- 10.00: Individual short 12.5 km U19/U22/Seniors men
- 11.45: prize-giving ceremony
- 12.15pm-12.45pm: weapons check and ski removal
- 12.45pm-1.35pm: U19/U22/Senior women shooting trials
- 1.45pm: Individual short 10 km U19/U22/Women’s seniors
- 3.15pm: prize-giving ceremony
- After the selections, Bessans hosts the first French Cups
- The full programme for the French Cup in Bessans, the first stage of the 2024/2025 national circuit
- Places reserved for U19s, seven quotas, deadlock, selection venues: how the French team will compete in the 2024/2025 Junior Cup
