Cross-country skiing: two medals for Les Bleues at EYOWF 2025
This Thursday morning, the French women’s cross-country skiing team competing at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival in Bakuriani (Georgia) shone brightly in the 7.5km individual skate. Jurassienne Gaëtane Breniaux won gold, while Montblanc’s Anouchka Neuville took bronze just ahead of Savoy’s Lucile Coutaz.

After the flower ceremony, and a few hours before receiving their medals in the evening in the Bakuriani medal square, the Tricolores spoke to Nordic Magazine about their performance.
Gaëtane Breniaux, in gold
“Honestly, I’m really happy! I never thought I’d win a gold medal in skateboarding. I feel like I slowed down on the last lap, but on the second I was with Lucile Coutaz [fourth on the day, editor’s note] and she helped me a lot, pulling me up. Thanks to her, I was able to accelerate and hold on for this performance.”

“I feel better in classical than in skateboarding, I’m more at ease so it’s really good to win in this style where I’m normally less at ease. I’m not sure what this title means, but it’s really good and shows that hard work pays off. Even if you’re badly ranked at the start of the season and you’ve been ill this summer, if you believe in it, you can do it by giving it your all right up to the end.”
Anouchka Neuville, in bronze
“We were warned that it was going to be a difficult race because there’s a good uphill section and the downhill section, so you have to work hard in the bends. There isn’t really any rest time and, on top of that, we’re at altitude. It was mainly a management race and most of it was done in the last lap, so you had to manage it well. It was very frustrating to be fourth [two days ago] so it’s great to be on the podium! It’s all the more pleasing because everyone is happy with their race overall, so we can all savour the moment together.”

“In the FESA Cup, I had more of a good feeling and I felt really good, whereas this was a really difficult race, mentally. I didn’t necessarily have the legs. Over my winter, I don’t think there’s one performance that’s worth more than another [between the podium in the FESA Cup, the participation in the Junior Worlds and this medal at the EYOF]. You have to take one race at a time and be proud of yourself in all circumstances.”
- The full programme of the Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
- Bakuriani: Anouchka Neuville carries the flag for the French delegation at the EYOWF 2025 opening ceremony
- Anouchka Neuville carried the French flag at the opening ceremony of the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: Gaëtane Breniaux takes silver in the individual 5km classic, Anouchka Neuville fourth
- Gaëtane Breniaux, silver medallist in the individual 5km classic at the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: “I picked up the pace as I went along”.
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: Victor Lafrasse wins bronze in the 7.5km individual classic by the narrowest of margins
- “Victor Lafrasse, bronze medallist in the individual 7.5km classic at the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: “I’m very proud.
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: Gaëtane Breniaux wins the 7.5km individual skateboard event, Anouchka Neuville takes bronze, Lucile Coutaz fourth