Biathlon: off to Austria and Prémanon for Les Bleus
The programme for the French biathlon team varies slightly from year to year. Sometimes, the legendary Summer Tour d’Arçon (Doubs) marks the start of the last major training camp of the preparation period. This time, in 2024, it will come at the end of a major ten-day gathering that kicks off this Tuesday.
For Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot, Jeanne Richard, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Gilonne Guigonnat, Sophie Chauveau and Océane Michelon , it will be Ramsau (Austria), with the possibility of a return to snow on the Dachstein glacier; and Prémanon (Jura), in hypoxia, for Oscar Lombardot, Fabien Claude, Eric Perrot, Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin.
“The girls will be able to ski in great conditions [a 7km loop and a 14km loop have been laid out, editor’s note], Stéphane Bouthiaux, director of the French teams, told Nordic Magazine. Cyril [Burdet] loves the playground there [a biathlon stadium where the intensity sessions will be held, editor’s note] so there’ll be plenty to do! They’ve made a slightly different choice to the boys. ”
They will therefore stay in France to train at the CNSNMM in Prémanon under the guidance of Simon Fourcade , while living in rooms that reproduce the effects of altitude.
“Arçon will be a good first indication”.
This meeting follows the one organised last month in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) ahead of the pre-manonier Summer Tour.
“Whenever we can, we try to do a preparation camp at the venue of the World Championships of the coming season,” explains Stéphane Bouthiaux. It’s always good to be immersed and to get some bearings, especially as the shooting range and the influence of the wind remain the same as in winter. It also allows us to spend 15 days at the altitude of the World Championships”.
On the whole, the French biathlon boss was satisfied with his summer’s training.
“The preparation went really well. The groups have been able to do what they wanted, it’s taking its course and the form seems to be gradually improving. The athletes are responding individually to the training load, so we’re not focusing too much on what’s happened so far in competition, he notes. We have a common training base for everyone, but we’re entering a phase where there’s more and more individualisation. Arçon will be a good first indication of the state of fitness of the athletes at the start of the season.”
Reminder of the official composition of the French A biathlon team for the 2024/2025 season
Men
- Fabien Claude – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Basse sur Le Rupt Nordic skiing (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Quentin Fillon-Maillet – DOUANE / Ski Club du Grandvaux (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Emilien Jacquelin – DOUANE / CS Nordique Villard de Lans (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Eric Perrot – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Peisey-Vallandry (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Oscar Lombardot – Entente Sportive Saugette (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
Ladies
- Justine Braisaz-Bouchet – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Sophie Chauveau – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Gilonne Guigonnat – Ski Club Villard sur Boëge (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Lou Jeanmonnot – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / Olympic Mont d’Or (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Océane Michelon – Bauges Ski Nordique (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Jeanne Richard – POLICE NATIONALE / Les Gets Ski Competition (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Julia Simon – DOUANE / Club des Sports des Saisies (Savoie) 🇫🇷
