Cross-country skiing: Rémi Bourdin in the big league again in Trondheim
On Tuesday, at the end of the 10-kilometre individual classic at the world cross-country skiing championships in Trondheim (Norway), Rémi Bourdin crossed the finish line in an excellent fourteenth place. Already thirteenth last Thursday in the opening skate sprint, the Frenchman continues to perform at the level of the best in this event of the season.
A few minutes after his solid performance, the Doubiste native spoke to Nordic Magazine about his performance.
- How did you feel going into what promised to be a Dante-esque competition?
I had a good feeling and I thought it was going really well. I was really looking forward to it and couldn’t wait for the start. I started to get excited about half an hour before the start. There were already a lot of people in the stadium and the pressure was building up nicely.
When I set off, things were going well. I set off at a fairly moderate pace. In those conditions, it’s hard to really put everything into it. What’s more, the track was really long. It’s more 11 kilometres than 10. So I knew it was going to be a long one. So I got off to a fast start but kept my head down.
- Did you have a clear strategy for the future?
At the intermediate stages, I was four or five seconds off the lead and I thought I was going to be able to accelerate at the halfway point. I finished when [Harald Oestberg] Amundsen set off. Except that he dropped me on the first climb [Laughs]. I still had him in my sights and that was cool. I was able to do some great bumps thanks to that.
“I didn’t feel like I was having a good race”Rémi Bourdin at Nordic Magazine
- And how did you manage the rest on your own?
It was a bit harder on my own. Even if you’ve still got some left under your feet, it’s hard to put everything in these conditions because you have to be super clean all the time. My poles were digging in a bit and you had to keep your footing. I knew that getting excited wasn’t the right solution, so I tried to stay calm. I found that I lacked a bit of rhythm at times and I tried to make up for that, but as soon as I put a bit more into it, it was hard. It was a battle against myself with intermediates that were never incredible.
- What’s your first feeling at the finish?
In the end, I didn’t feel I’d had a good race. At the finish, I was even a little disappointed but when I see the result, I’m quite happy and satisfied because I put everything I had into it and it makes for a great race. In the warm-up, I was really excited because I love this kind of snow. I remember when we were in the OPA Cup or at the World Juniors, it was always between rain and snow and I was really hoping it would snow because I’ve always had good skis in these conditions and I’ve always enjoyed skiing in the rasp. It’s a nice thing to do. I was ready for battle and in a good mood. I think I approached the day in the right way.
- Would you have signed up for these two top 15 finishes in two races before these World Championships?
At the start of the season, I would have signed up for these performances. I’m really pleased to be consistent in both the sprint and the classic distance. I’m only one minute away from winning a race that was long and hard. Now we’ll have to get back to work to go and win some medals. The next individual classic in Falun in 2027 will be a real target.
“For the moment, I’ve given it my all and shown that I’m in good shape”Rémi Bourdin at Nordic Magazine
- What’s next for you?
I’m a substitute for the sprint team so I’ll have to be ready right up to the start if Richard [Jouve] or Jules [Chappaz] feel a bit less well. As for the relay, we’ll know the line-up this evening. For the moment, it’s not closed for the relay but I was waiting for the verdict. It would just be incredible to run it. But as I’ve already said, the objective is for France to win a medal. So we’ll see if I’ve got my place or not, but for the moment, I’ve given it my all and I’ve shown that I’m in good shape. It’s up to the staff to decide now.
Read also
- “I’m not looking for excuses”: a lot of disappointment for Hugo Lapalus after the individual classic at the world championships
- Trondheim: after the sprint and skiathlon, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo claimed his third consecutive world title in the individual classic, with Hugo Lapalus and Rémi Bourdin in the top 15.
- Trondheim: disappointed to have missed out on a medal in the sprint, the French will have to turn the page
- Alexandre Rousselet reviews the French performances after the first week of the Trondheim Worlds
