Cross-country skiing: “Preparation is just about ideal”, Thomas Joly tells Nordic Magazine ahead of the Birkebeinerrennet
One of France’s finest long-distance cross-country skiers, Thomas Joly – a member of Team Ramudden – will be at the start of the legendary Birkebeinerrennet in Norway this Saturday.
After injuring his hand at the end of January, the 26-year-old cross-country skier returned to competition on the Vasaloppet in Sweden on 2 March. On the eve of the Birkebeinerrennet, the Doubien looks back on his season and talks to Nordic Magazine about his physical condition.
- How are you feeling on the eve of the famous Birkebeinerrennet?
I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve been able to deal with my injury since the Vasaloppet when I was still in a lot of pain. Now I feel 100% with my right hand, so that’s the most important thing. The preparation went quite well, and I’ve been staying in Lillehammer (Norway) since the end of the Vasaloppet. I was able to take advantage of the snow conditions in Sjusjøen (Norway) and ski the Birkebeinerrennet course, which I already knew well. The preparation is just about ideal.
- What is your objective for the race?
My aim is to get back into the top 10, as I did in January[seventh in the 3 Zinnen Ski-Marathon and fifth in La Diagonela, editor’s note]. I want to be out in front again. The Birkebeinerrennet has worked quite well for me, I have a top 10 [eighth in 2022, editor’s note] and a top 15 [fifteenth in 2023, editor’s note].
“I’m already very happy to be able to come back and race at the end of the season. I did everything I could to limit the damage” Thomas Joly at Nordic Magazine
- Let’s go back to your hand injury. How serious was it and how did it handicap you?
I fractured my right metacarpal the day after the Marcialonga, when I fell during training. A fracture means immediate immobilisation and a cast. It really affected my form. It broke the momentum of the race we had in January. I wasn’t able to run in February. It also had an impact on my muscles, because I hardly used my right arm for a month. I’m already very happy to be able to come back and race at the end of the season. I did everything I could to limit the damage.
- How did you feel about your return to the Vasaloppet?
It’s pretty special to be able to do the Vasaloppet, because I was still in a cast the week before. I ran with a splint, which wasn’t really ideal. I lacked a lot of strength in my right hand, due to the splint. But also because I hadn’t used my right arm for almost a month. The aim was really to come back and see what could be done and get the body used to the effort again with a view to the end of the season. It was really good for the rest of the season.
- More generally, how would you sum up your season so far?
So far, it’s been a season of ups and downs. I’m very happy with the level I reached in January. I’m really aiming to get into the top 5 and try to get into the top 10 on a regular basis too. I’d love to be on the podium before the end of the season if possible, or as soon as possible. But there’s also the injury, which has put a stop to things. The most important thing was to get back to a good level. That’s done, so I’m really happy about that.
- This is your first season with Team Ramudden. How is the season going with your new team?
I’m really happy to be in Team Ramudden. Things are going really well with the coaches, the team-mates and the technicians. It’s a team that really wants to win the team rankings and it’s one of the best teams on the circuit. It’s very professional. My team-mates are very strong and almost all of them have already finished on the podium. I’m learning from everyone and I’m trying to contribute to the team as well.
Read also
- Cross-country skiing | Birkebeinerrennet: the state of mind of Max Novak, Johan Tjelle and Emil Persson before the legendary Norwegian race
- Profile: Thomas Joly, working more to earn more
- Cross-country skiing: Thomas Joly changes team and joins Team Ramudden, the second-best team on the Ski Classics circuit last year
