Cross-country skiing: Lucas Chanavat wants to win a world medal at last
Since the start of the season, Lucas Chanavat has finished on the podium of a cross-country skiing World Cup sprint three times. However, during his career, the Bornandin has not always enjoyed the same success in world championship events.
Sixth in Seefeld (Austria) in 2019 and in the same position in Planica (Slovenia) in 2023, the 30-year-old cross-country skier is finally looking to put the long years of chasing world medals behind him. In Trondheim (Norway), starting this Thursday, he will be looking to add a medal to his trophy cabinet as a reward for recent seasons among the very best. The Haut-Savoyard spoke to Nordic Magazine before flying off to Norway.
- How did your last few weeks of competition and training go?
I stayed at altitude except for two days when I went to Cogne. After that stage, I went to Livigno and arrived in Falun after a block of three or four weeks at altitude. The benefits are supposed to arrive in Trondheim. That’s also why I didn’t feel particularly fit in Sweden.
- Are you concerned that your form has fallen short of expectations?
I’m not too worried about my fitness level. I hope it will continue to improve as the week goes on. I’ve done a few intensives but it’s true that the hours are gradually decreasing. My final preparation was a bit disrupted because I jammed my back in Livigno. I also had some pain in my ankle while compensating. It was still really sore in Falun and it’s been bothering me a bit lately. There are also the effects of the altitude and it’s a bit frustrating not to be in top form, but I know that’s normal and that time will work in my favour. I’ll be patient.
- Especially as your impatience to get to Norway must be growing by the day…
There are times when it’s a bit stressful because it’s getting closer. But there are also times when it’s exciting. It’s a bit of both. I’m counting the days [Laughs]! It’s my goal for the year and it’s been the same for several seasons. There are big ambitions and that inevitably brings its own share of pressure and excitement.
“For me, it’s almost bigger than the Olympics”.Lucas Chanavat at Nordic Magazine
- What does this deadline mean to you?
For me, it’s almost bigger than the Olympics. It really is the cross-country skiing event of the year, if not the decade. I’ve got some big cards to play and I want to do it in the best possible way. I think Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo will be going for all the medals.
- Speaking of the overall leader, how do you see this day’s sprint skate against the man who dominates the world sprint?
Given Klæbo’s and my own start to the season, I’m just a contender as an outsider for the medal. We know that the title will be very hard to come by with Johannes at his prime. But after that, I know that if I’m also at my best, anything can happen and I can also play for that place! That’s why I’m a bit impatient to be at my prime [Laughs].
- You’ve often come close to winning medals in recent seasons, so we can imagine that you don’t want to let your chance slip away again…
I’d already reached the final in Seefeld in 2019. I also reached this stage in Planica in 2023, but that was a classic. I’ve still competed in two finals and now it’s time to put it into practice and bring home a medal. That would be crazy. It would really be the culmination of everything I’ve put in over the last few years. I’m regularly in the top two in sprint skateboarding, so it’s clearly a big ambition for me.
- Will the team sprint also be one of your objectives?
It depends a bit on how fit you are. For the moment, I have to admit that I’m concentrating a lot on the sprint skate. After that, we’ll see what happens after the Worlds.
“We’ve never had a denser team”.Lucas Chanavat at Nordic Magazine
- Do you think the French team is capable of playing in every competition?
There are huge possibilities at these World Championships. We’ve never had such a strong team. Whether it’s in the sprint or the distance, it’s all over the place. So it’s clear that it’s up to us to make sure we’re there and do our job to be there in Trondheim.
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- “I want to go lightly”: Léna Quintin talks to Nordic Magazine ahead of the Trondheim Worlds
- “Doing this competition is a real achievement”: after his fine performances in the World Cup, Victor Lovera will be competing in his very first senior World Championships in Trondheim.
- The French selection for the Trondheim Worlds
