Cross-country skiing : after five weeks without competition, Jules Chappaz is reassured
To find any trace of Jules Chappaz on the cross-country skiing world cup, you have to go back to December 15 and a classic mass-start in Davos (Switzerland) where the Frenchman failed to finish. The Haut-Savoyard thenmissed out on the Tour de Ski due to illness.
Back with a race number on his back for the classic sprint of the French stage in Les Rousses (Jura), the cross-country skier from La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie) was delighted to be back competing on Saturday. Nordic Magazine talks to him about his feelings and his performance today.
- What are your first impressions after your race?
It was tough, but it was good. I think the track has really improved compared to 2023 and that’s already great. It’s less tactical and more physical. So I love it [Laughs]! The finish is magnificent. It reminds me a bit of Drammen. There’s a big physical part with the legs at the start. Then, it’s more of a tactical part where you have to be in position on the descent. And at the end, there’s a very physical push part. You’re in the grip and I loved it. However, I made a small tactical error in the semi-final that meant I missed the final.
- After several weeks without a confrontation, satisfaction still prevails?
I’ll take this result. I’ve had a rubbish start to the season. I’m really happy to have reached the semi-finals by playing my way into the final and showing that I’m back.
- We also saw you finish strongly in your semi-final…
I had a great finish today. And I think the crowd and the atmosphere really helped me to push myself. It pushed me and helped me to have a great finish.
“I’m going to build on that for the rest of the season”.Jules Chappaz at Nordic Magazine
- Is this the return to competition you were hoping for?
It’s been five weeks since I last wore a race number. I’d had some difficult sprints where I didn’t make it past the qualifiers and I didn’t really understand why. This time, I’d prepared well, but I fell ill last week. At first, I thought: “That’s great, everyone’s going to be rinsed out after the Tour of Ski and I’m going to come in full throttle”. But then I caught a virus. So I’m really pleased to have come through today with a good feeling. I’m going to build on that for the rest of the season. The best is yet to come.
- Where do you think you will lose your place in the final?
I think I made a mistake. I told myself that Lucas [Chanavat] was really good at pushing and that if I stayed on my skis, he’d take me. I knew I’d have the finish afterwards. But at that point, we were overtaken by everyone else. I found myself in fifth place when I really had a chance in the final. I didn’t trust myself enough.
- What did you think of the atmosphere on the day?
It’s incredible. Two years ago, I stopped very early in the quarters. I fell at the top of the Balancier and didn’t really enjoy it. And now, when my quarter finishes, I’ve decided to harangue the crowd a bit because it’s really rare to race in France. You really have to make the most of it and there was a crazy crowd. This sprint has a bit of a “cauldron” effect. I feel like I’m in a stadium, so it’s really cool.
- What’s next for you?
I’m going to race the mass-start classic and then we’ll see. There’s Switzerland next week and Italy the week after that. Then I’ll be home for a fortnight before heading to Falun and the Worlds right after that. Today felt like the real start of the season.
Read also
- “I have no regrets because I gave it my all”: Lucas Chanavat mixed feelings after his sixth place in the classic sprint at Les Rousses
- At Les Rousses, Renaud Jay gets back on his feet
- Les Rousses: Edvin Anger signs his first World Cup success in the classic sprint, Lucas Chanavat sixth in the final
- Les Rousses: Lucas Chanavat second in classic sprint qualifying behind Ben Ogden, four other French qualifiers
