Cross-country skiing | Margot Tirloy, who didn’t come off the podium in the FESA Cup, talks about her incredible weekend in Italy: “I wasn’t expecting such a great start to the season”

Cross-country skiing: Margot Tirloy makes a successful return to the FESA Cup circuit

This weekend, Margot Tirloy will be at the start of the French Cross-Country Skiing Cup in Arvieux (Hautes-Alpes). It’s a competition where the Haut-Savoyard will be eagerly awaited. Second in the skate sprint and then winner of the individual classic and skate events, the 19-year-old cross-country skier shone at the first stage of the FESA Cup season last weekend in Schlinig (Italy).

After discovering the Alpine circuit last year, the Frenchwoman is now looking to establish herself as one of the leading names. Nordic Magazine spoke to La Cluse about her excellent performances andher ambitions for this winter’s major events.

• How are you approaching the first international weekend of the season?

I already spent a winter in the FESA Cup last winter where I was with older athletes. I learnt a lot and discovered the circuit. I wasn’t arriving too much in the unknown this year. I went into the weekend without thinking too much and I just wanted to do well. I wanted to put in place what I’d been working on over the summer. That gave me a chance to see what it was like at that level and it worked out pretty well.

• You were on the sprint podium on the very first day. What were your expectations for the rest of the weekend?

I wasn’t expecting to finish on the podium in the sprint at all, because the international level is so high in this discipline. Reaching the final was already cool, but a podium finish is even better! Given that it wasn’t my main objective for the weekend, it raised my expectations a little for the individuals. I knew that Beatrice Laurent, who had already won the sprint, was also performing well in the distance. So I was really keen to see what would happen against her. I went into it without any pressure and it paid off!

• You went on to win the two individual events. What were the key points that enabled you to dominate these events?

This track suited me well because there were a lot of key points that I managed to find, particularly in the recoveries and small bumps. It suited me well in both skate and classic. In the skateboard race, I managed the 10 kilometres well, although that’s a distance I usually struggle to manage. Over the 5 kilometres, it was less manageable, but I managed it all the same.

• What were the highlights of your weekend?

I’ve already managed to get a podium in the sprint and I wasn’t expecting that at all. On this first weekend, I’m leading the overall classification and it’s great to start the season in this way. We’ll see what happens in the next few races, but I’m already looking forward to even better ones.

• Were you expecting such a strong start to the season?

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting such a good start to the season. After that, I worked really hard over the summer and I think it’s been one of my best since I started. It’s bearing fruit today and I’m very happy about that!

• What are your main objectives for winter 2024/2025?

One of my objectives is the World Junior Championships in Schlipario. There will be some formats that I really like, so that’s great. A podium finish in the overall ranking of the FESA Cup would also be a great goal and would prove that I’ve been consistent all season. We’ll see if I stick to it [laughs]!

Read also

• Schlinig: Margot Tirloy scores a fine double in the U20 individual skate, with five French girls in the top 10
• FESA Cup in Schlinig: Margot Tirloy wins the U20 individual classic, a superb group effort from the French girls
• Margot Tirloy looks back on her podium finish in the FESA Cup at the Schlinig skate sprint: “It gives me confidence”.
• FESA Cup in Schlinig: Margot Tirloy tops the U20 sprint skate podium, Clémence Didierlaurent and Léonie Perry reach the semi-finals in the senior category