Cross-country skiing : Mathis Desloges now the best U23 World Cup cross-country skier
Mathis Desloges reached a milestone this Sunday on the slopes of Ruka (Finland). At the start of his sixth cross-country skiing World Cup event, the closing mass-start skate, the Frenchman crossed the finish line in an excellent ninth place.
After reestablishing his position as the laps went by, the Isérois stayed in contact with the very best in the discipline right up to the final hectometres. In the top 10 for the first time in his young career, the Dauphinois spoke to Nordic Magazine about his fine performance.
- On Friday, in the individual classic, you finished in the top 30. How did you feel about this first event of the winter?
I think I’m in good shape for the start of the season. We were a bit unsuccessful in the individual classic on Friday. The conditions changed a little. It started to snow on the small bibs and it stopped at the end. That’s why I think we were a bit unsuccessful. But in terms of performance, we were on target.
- What was your state of mind before setting off on Sunday’s skate mass-start?
I was looking forward to doing this mass-start skate. It’s definitely a format that I like and that works well for me too. It was really enjoyable and I’m really pleased with the result. It’s also great to have the green jersey of best young rider.
- The mass-start format works well for you. How do you explain this?
It’s all about positioning, because we know that in a peloton, there can be crowd movements and so on. You’re not immune to a little trouble. It’s a great format where I can express myself well.
“The aim was to get back on track quickly”.Mathis Desloges at Nordic Magazine
- What were your tactics during the race?
The aim was to get back into the race quickly because I had number 45. We had counted with the staff and I was on the fifteenth line at the start [Laughs]. So there were a lot of people in front of me and I had to get up there using as little energy as possible. You have to be at the front so that if there’s an attack, I can respond. All the same, I had a bit of trouble staying at the front and in the finish, I start a long way back, even a bit too far back to play and try to aim higher. But I think that if someone had told me I could do a top 10 on the first World Cup weekend, I would have signed up without hesitation!
- We can also imagine you being happy to share this top 10 with your compatriot Jules Lapierre, who finished tenth on Sunday just behind you…
Anyway, it’s always nicer when it’s shared with one of the guys in the team. I think we had a great race and that bodes well for the next ones. I also think we can do even better as a team.
- Next weekend, in Lillehammer (Norway), you’ll be wearing the green bib as the best U23 World Cup finisher. Does that motivate you even more?
Yes, it’s definitely a bit of a bonus! It’s always nice to have a distinctive jersey on my shoulders that I’ll be able to wear in Lillehammer. I’m really looking forward to it. Over there, I’ll be competing in the individual skate and the skiathlon. These will be two races where I can really enjoy myself and hope for good results.
Read also
- Following his ninth place in Ruka, Mathis Desloges takes the green bib as best U23 World Cup finisher
- Ruka: Mathis Desloges and Jules Lapierre in the top 10 of the skate mass-start won by Harald Oestberg Amundsen
