Cross-country skiing: “There are ways of generating highly motivating training sessions and competition”, according to Olivier Michaud
On Tuesday, at the unveiling of the federal cross-country ski squads for the 2025/2026 season, the merger of the French women’s A and B teams was made official. The result is a team of fourteen cross-country skiers, coached by Alexandre Pouyé and Vincent Vittoz , who will be preparing for the Olympic season.
The expanded group includes Delphine Claudel, Flora Dolci, Léna Quintin, Mélina Berthet, Heidi Convard, Liv Coupat, Juliette Ducordeau, Justine Gaillard, Mélissa Gal, Cloé Pagnier, Léonie Perry, Julie Pierrel, France Pignot and Margot Tirloy.
“We’re really determined to create more emulation with this group. The idea is that with fourteen girls, there’s a way of generating highly motivating training sessions and competition, Olivier Michaud, director of the French cross-country skiing teams, tells Nordic Magazine. It’s bound to raise their level. The aim of this large group is also to look ahead to the 2030 Games. We’re not particularly ahead of the game as it is, so the idea is to work hard with the younger members of the team to win this competition.”
Full confidence in the Alexandre Pouyé/Vincent Vittoz duo
“There’s also a desire to get back to the start of the season with each girl who has as much chance of playing in the selections and the Olympic Games, continues the head of French cross-country skiing. The idea is to work as a group with two coaches who will share the task to create a great sense of competition between the girls.”
The Alexandre Pouyé/Vincent Vittoz tandem is the other new addition resulting from the decision to pool the two women’s groups. “They know each other very well and I sincerely believe that they complement each other, says Olivier Michaud. Each will bring something to the other, which is great. I have every confidence in them!”
The official composition of the French women’s A and B cross-country skiing team for the 2025/2026 season
- Delphine Claudel – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Flora Dolci – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Association Sportive Edelweiss (Alpes Provence) 🇫🇷
- Léna Quintin – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Ski Club Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Mélina Berthet – Vercors Ski de Fond (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Heidi Convard – Club des Sports Courchevel (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Liv Coupat – Bessat Sport d’Hiver (Forez) 🇫🇷
- Juliette Ducordeau – Club Ski Nordique Villard de Lans (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Justine Gaillard – Ski Amical Méaudrais (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Mélissa Gal – Ski Club Nordique Pays Rochois (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Cloé Pagnier – Risoux Club Chaux Neuve (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Léonie Perry – La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Julie Pierrel – Ski Club Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- France Pignot – Ski Club d’Agy St-Sigismond (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Margot Tirloy – Club des Sports La Clusaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- The composition of the French national teams for the 2025/2026 season
- 2025/2026 season: the complete selection of the French men’s A team
- 2025/2026 season: the complete selection of the French women’s A and B teams
- 2025/2026 season: the complete selection of the French men’s B team
- 2025/2026 season: the full selection of the men’s Excellence 2030 group
- 2025/2026 season: the full selection of the women’s Excellence 2030 group
