Cross-country skiing: Maurice Manificat returns to Davos on the other side of the fence
Present in Lillehammer ( Norway) for the second leg of the cross-country skiing World Cup circuit, Maurice Manificat could not miss the races in Davos (Switzerland) scheduled for last weekend. A two-time winner at this venue during his career and six-time podium finisher, the Frenchman had made it his kingdom for almost a decade.
This time it was from the other side of the fence that the Haut-Savoyard attended the festivities. Now a fan with the noisy and cheerful Team Farté, Maurice Manificat tells Nordic Magazine all about his time in Graubünden.
“After Lillehammer, I continued my short stay in Norway by skiing at Sjusjøen. There wasn’t much snow, whereas in France it snowed a lot in our mountain ranges. I made the most of the conditions, which were incredible, with sublime scenery. There was so little snow that we sometimes damaged our skis.”
“For Davos, it was decided a bit out of the blue. I had contacted Team Farté to see if I could join them this weekend. And I have no regrets. There was a place for me and I’ve fitted in well with the team. I signed up, put on my checked jacket, my noisy utensils and off I went!”
“I had some great times there”Maurice Manificat to Nordic Magazine
“I arrived on Friday so I watched the team sprint as I made my way to Switzerland and Davos. When I got there, I went straight to the supporters’ tent and everyone was already dancing and drinking beers [Laughs]. I was straight into it!”
“The next day, it was time for my first day as a supporter. I still skied on Saturday morning to enjoy Davos and the beautiful slopes. I had a great time there for a decade. This stage has always been good for me and for the French in general too.”
A festive first podium for Lucas Chanavat
“This night sprint format is really great! As a fan, you get to enjoy the day and the slopes, and it’s a great way to kick off the day. We had to make a bit of a sporting effort to get ahead of the evening [Laughs]! The life of a supporter is just great. We’re talking about the life of an athlete, but the life of a supporter is very sporting too! Frankly, I don’t know what’s harder between the two.”
“This group of young people from the Aravis region is top notch and they’re really incredible people who are great supporters. They have faith because it’s not all plain sailing. Everything is paid for by them and you can feel the passion, which I have to admit is a real treat. It’s great to be able to enjoy it and to be behind the barrier!”
“I was really looking forward to it and it was an extraordinary Saturday. Lucas [Chanavat, editor’s note] was on the podium, although the other French riders were a little further back. The three girls also made it through to the finals and that was exceptional! When Lucas finished in the top 3, we all rushed to the podium and we made a huge noise! It was a really great communion.”
“In the evening, there was a concert in the supporters’ tent – that was the great life of a supporter! The next day, we had to keep up the good work, because it was back to the classic 20-kilometre individual race. The track is very demanding and, like last year, the athletes are racing on the ‘historic’ route. After all, we were celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of this stage in Davos! This is one of the most legendary World Cup venues, almost on a par with Oslo.”
Noise, noise and more noise at the runway edge
“It’s a beautiful route with some great uphill sections. The waxing required a good feel for the snow as well as some big chunks of rock. We were on the big bump of the course. Let’s hear the bugles, the chainsaws and the cheers!”
“We were in front of the camera, so it was great fun! As for me, I had the camera with the horn where you have to pump the air with a bicycle pump to fill the compressed air tank and I can tell you that you have to work hard [Laughs]! I gave it my all and that was the crowning glory with Hugo [Lapalus] on the podium.”
“It was an incredible race. It was great to be on the side of the track and see the athletes. I encourage everyone to come and see real sport because it’s incredible! It was great skiing, the guys gave it their all. It was great skiing from Hugo and you could see that it was really going. What’s more, there was some suspense because [Simen Hegstad] Krueger wasn’t far behind.”
“We’re not afraid of happiness!”Maurice Manificat to Nordic Magazine
“Hugo’s second podium finish, his first in a format other than Alpe Cermis, was a relief. Once again, it was a great party on the podium. I really enjoyed my life and it was a ‘gusto gusto’ weekend, as we say in the Aravis! We’re not afraid of happiness!”
“Now it’s time for the Christmas break before the Tour de Ski which starts on 28 December. Everyone will have a bit of a rest and in between there will be the biathlon World Cup in Le Grand-Bornand. The Tour de Ski bodes well with a fine French team. We’re not going to say too much, but it’s going to be great.”
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