Cross-country skiing: Margot Tirloy joins the French A and B teams
As she celebrates her twentieth birthday on 19 May, Frenchwoman Margot Tirloy was included in the French women’s A and B cross-country skiing team this spring. Although she has not yet competed in the FESA Cup at senior level or in the World Cup, the cross-country skier from La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie) dominated the FESA Cup U20 circuit last season.
A few days ago, as her holiday in the Dominican Republic drew to a close, Margot Tirloy spoke to Nordic Magazine. Interview.
- When did you learn of your appointment to the French B cross-country skiing team, in a group merged with the senior team?
I found out I’d been selected for the France A/B team a week before the groups were announced. Vincent [Vittoz] called to tell me I’d been included in the team. I was so happy! I was expecting it, but I wasn’t too sure of myself.
- This summer, the French A and B team will be working together. You’ll be doing all the training courses together and you personally will be training with the best French women for the first time. Is that a big step forward?
When he told me that we were going to be training with the senior team, I thought that would be great and that I’d learn a lot from them. They’ve got three times as much experience as me and all I have to do is learn from them! Last year, in Excellence 2030, I was with young people and I was more or less leading the group. Now, I’m the smallest, so I’ll be able to get help from all the big girls above me.
“So this will change me, but it’s nice to have a change after a while!”Margot Tirloy at Nordic Magazine
- All the more so as you’ll have two coaches, Alexandre Pouyé and Vincent Vittoz, to drive you at each course…
It changes a lot of things! Having one coach is great, but with two you can do so much more. Above all, you get two different points of view, which I find really interesting. Personally, since I joined the committee, I’ve always had the same coach, Damien Tarantola. So this will be a change for me, but it’s good to have a change after a while!
- Things have been moving very fast for you in recent years, and now you’re in Group A/B at the age of almost 20 after a successful season in the FESA Cup juniors. How do you feel about that?
I’m gaining self-confidence! I’m working with different groups and at different levels, but also in training. That’s another reason why I had a great season this year. The first year, I was able to gain experience on this circuit and, here, I had my bases and I was able to give it my all. Staying with the teams and moving up to B this year is just great! This time I’m moving up to the seniors, and therefore the U23s. It’s a bit scary, but I’ve seen over the winter that girls like Léonie Perry have done really well. So we’ll see what happens!
“It would be a dream to go to the 2026 Olympics, but it’s not a priority for me”Margot Tirloy at Nordic Magazine
- Is the World Cup the next step?
It’s clearly a goal for next season. I’d really like to go to my first World Cup. Unfortunately, there won’t be one in France, so I’ll have to go and get it at the FESA Cup! It’s going to be interesting, especially as I’ll be training with girls who are already there. Léonie Perry’s example makes me dream and makes me want to do the same!
- And why not, if the planets align, dream of selection for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games…
[She laughs] It’s tricky! My family hopes so, but I know it’s going to be complicated. I’m going to do everything I can to get there, but if I don’t, I’ll definitely be aiming for 2030, at home in La Clusaz! It would be a dream to go to the 2026 Olympics, but that’s not my priority. I need to climb the ladder one step at a time, and I’m trying not to think about that, but rather about the U23 World Championships in Norway.
