Cross-country skiing: Jérémy Royer and Team Eksjöhus set their sights on the Birkebeinerrennet
Jérémy Royer, a member of Team Eksjöhus, has established himself as one of the most solid cross-country skiers in the Ski Classics. With four races left in the season, he is wearing the pink bib as the best young rider in the overall rankings.
This Saturday sees the start of the legendary Birkebeinerrennet in Norway, an opportunity for the 25-year-old skier from Chamrousse to talk to Nordic Magazine.
- How do you approach the Birkebeinerrennet?
I’m feeling pretty good ahead of the Birkebeinerrennet. I’ve recovered quite well from my Vasaloppet. I think I’ve done my job to recover well and train properly afterwards. I spent around ten days in Oslo. They weren’t the best skiing conditions, but I did what I could to train as well as I could and spend time with my friends who I don’t see very often.
“If things go well for me on Saturday, it’s hard to project myself like that, but why not a top 5 or even better?Jérémy Royer at Nordic Magazine
- What are your objectives for the event?
My individual goals would be to have a good race. I’ve been in good shape for a while now. I’ve done a lot of regular races, but never at the top. If things go well for me on Saturday, it’s hard to project myself like that, but why not a top 5 or even better? I hope the team will be happy. A podium or a win for the team would be ideal. It’s a race that suits everyone’s profile. We hope that everything will come together for us.
- On the Vasaloppet, things didn’t turn out as you’d hoped…
I was in very good shape. On the first climb, I was responding well. I tried to get into a breakaway for the first few kilometres of the race. Then the peloton caught up with us. I skied in the pack for two thirds of the race. I broke a stick at kilometre 60 and after that, all my chances of a good result were gone. I had to do between 500 m and 1 km with just one stick. I lost about two minutes on the leading group. It’s impossible to get back into the lead once you’ve lost that and you’re on your own.
- You’re wearing the pink bib for best young rider. Was that a goal at the start of the season?
I’m very happy to be able to wear the pink bib and I want to keep it. It was clearly my objective at the start of the season. I hope that my form will remain good until the end of the season and that I won’t have any incidents that will prevent me from playing it to the end. Playing in a general race means you can’t miss a stage. As in the Vasa, I’ve dropped a lot of points. I hope that I’ll be able to stay consistent until the end of the season.
“I’m quite frustrated because I’ve often been at the front of the race and I’ve never had a finish that worked in my favour.Jérémy Royer at Nordic Magazine
- How would you sum up your season so far?
I’ve had a very good season because I haven’t had results like that in the past. But at the same time, I’m quite frustrated because I’ve often been at the front of the race and I’ve never had a finish that worked in my favour. Sometimes, I helped the team and I needed to do the work at the back rather than at the front. As a result, you don’t get the result you want at the end. I’d really like to get a good result in the last four races.
- How do you feel about being part of Team Eksjöhus?
I’m feeling really good. There’s a very good understanding and I’m very happy. I adapted quite quickly. It’s a bit of a different culture, but it’s still a cross-country skiing team.
Read also
- Cross-country skiing | Birkebeinerrennet: the state of mind of Max Novak, Johan Tjelle and Emil Persson before the legendary Norwegian race
- Portrait: Jérémy Royer, the big life
