Cross-country skiing: first World Cup this Sunday in Davos for Margot Tirloy
On Monday morning, a few hours after returning home from a weekend spent in Planica (Slovenia) competing in a round of the FESA Cup cross-country skiing competition, Margot Tirloy learned that she would be competing in the World Cup in Davos (Switzerland).
“I was like a kid when I heard the news,” she recalls for Nordic Magazine. It has to be said that at 20 years of age, and in her first year in the senior category, the cross-country skier from La Clusaz (Haute-Savoie) is about to discover the most prestigious circuit in the world.
“It was definitely a goal for this season, but maybe not from the start! It’s come sooner than expected, but I’m so happy,” she enthuses. I can’t wait to get there, I’ve got nothing to lose and I’m going to give it my all.
Discovering the FESA Cup seniors last weekend
Margot Tirloy has made one discovery after another, as the races in Slovenia were her very first international races in the top category.
“Over there, I wasn’t expecting anything because I went without knowing what level to expect. I mainly wanted to discover the senior circuit and see what my level was like,” she says.
Disappointed by her performances in the sprint free (seventeenth) and theindividual classic (eighteenth), La Cluse then set her sights on shining in the individual skating on Sunday.” I had set myself the goal of breaking into the top 10 and I achieved it,” she said, finishing eighth.
And it’s in this 10km skate format that Margot Tirloy will don her first World Cup bib on Sunday in the canton of Grisons.
She’ll be able to run against her idol Jessie Diggins
I can’t wait to discover this beautiful circuit,” she continues. It’s all new to me and it’s such a childhood dream. Now that I’ve got the chance to go there, I’m going to try to enjoy myself as much as possible, that’s important.”
All this without putting any particular pressure on themselves: “You have to see it as a FESA Cup. It’s still a cross-country ski race, it’s just that the level is changing. I have to take it as it comes, enjoy myself and give it my all without changing my habits too much,” she insists.
In Davos, Margot Tirloy – cheered on by Team Farté – will be able to see her American idol Jessie Diggins, wearing the yellow bib. ” I’m so happy to be able to race against her, especially as this is her last year”, she concludes. With a bit of luck, the race number draw will give her the honour of skiing in her wake.
