Cross-country skiing: Maurice Manificat attended the sprint skate and skiathlon in Norway
After announcing in March that he would no longer be a member of the French cross-country ski teams after more than twenty years spent travelling the world to represent the French colours on the World Cup stages, Maurice Manificat travelled to Lillehammer (Norway) last weekend.
The Haut-Savoyard tells Nordic Magazine all about this great first experience on the other side of the Scandinavian divide.
Maurice Manificat’s debrief
“Lillehammer was a great weekend for several reasons. Firstly, it was the return of the World Cup to the original Birkebeinerrennet stadium, the Birkebeineren Stadion. These are the Olympic tracks that were modified a few years ago.”
“I didn’t know what the Olympic tracks were like in 1994. Finally, the work was done around 2013. The stadium had already been modified, but it’s still on the same site with the beautiful slopes and bumps that we know. It’s really a cross-country track and it’s more selective than in recent years.”
“The last time we raced on these original tracks, I had done fifth if I’m not talking nonsense. That was in December 2017. Since then, we’d been on the biathlon trails for several years because there wasn’t enough snow and the organisers didn’t want to use the artificial snow. The pistes were beautiful but lacked selection. It wasn’t possible to do a skiathlon like we did this weekend.”
A skiathlon that pleased the four-time Olympic medallist
“That’s another reason why it was a great weekend. Of course, there was an individual skate and a sprint skate, but it’s true that the skiathlon is one of the most beautiful events in cross-country skiing. That’s what we all said to each other. It’s a good representation of our sport, with the two styles of classic and skate. There’s also the change in skiing, with a 20-kilometre format only introduced a few years ago, which means we can stay with a format that’s relatively short and dynamic. And it’s a mass-start. We saw a great show and it was really incredible.”
“We were under the Scandinavian sun, which stays very low and offers sublime light”Maurice Manificat to Nordic Magazine
“For this skiathlon, we were under the Scandinavian sun, which stays very low and offers sublime light. When it’s all white, it’s really the winter scenery that we love. For the French, it was a bit of a mixed bag. The distance riders were in a good position with Hugo [Lapalus] and Mathis [Desloges], who was really pleased to win the green jersey from Edvin Anger. The race went at a frantic pace with the Norwegians, so it was very hard for those who were at the limit.”
“The snow became more and more slippery as the weekend went on, even though it was difficult to hang on, as we saw with the girls. The classic section was prohibitive and it wasn’t just the French who fell through. In this race, it’s hit or miss, but it makes for an incredible finish and an incredible race. The weather also meant that we had a bit of everything. The snow was quite slow at the start. Personally, I was lucky enough to be able to watch the sprint and the skiathlon because I arrived in Norway on Friday evening. On Saturday, it was foggy and overcast. It was still a great event with some good battles.”
“Therese Johaug hurt the race a little bit”Maurice Manificat to Nordic Magazine
“Among the girls, it’s true that Therese Johaug did a bit of damage to the race [Laughs]. She opened up some gaps right from the start and that certainly makes the women’s races a little less interesting than they used to be. In any case, there’s a great match behind in the groups with Heidi Weng, Jonna Sundling, Ebba Andersson, Astrid Oeyre Slind, the Germans but also Jessie Diggins who has the yellow bib. There’s a real battle for the overall. Now we’ll have to see how Therese manages her season and whether or not she’ll be there for all the races to prepare for Trondheim.”
Les Bleus in need of a boost
“Among the French, Flora [Dolci] has made a very consistent start to the season and is the best placed Frenchwoman. She’s in good form so that bodes well for Davos and the Tour de Ski. Delphine [Claudel] is a little further back but she’s in the same vein as the other French racers who are lacking in pep. That may come later in the season. During this Scandinavian period, we’re not at home and that has an effect that we feel quite a lot. When you come back to the Alps, spending a day or two at home is refreshing.”
“It was a bit disappointing in the sprint. In recent years, we’ve got used to a lot of French riders coming through, especially in skateboarding. After that, that’s just the way it is and from what I’ve heard, there’s still a lack of watts at the start of the season and quite a few of them are feeling it. It’s hard to explain why, but I’m convinced that it will come a little later!”
In Davos, Maurice Manificat will once again be watching the races
“There weren’t many spectators. It’s not the stage where there are the most people in general, but on the other hand, you have visibility and you can navigate a bit from everywhere on the tracks. I have to admit that I was thrilled for the French riders in particular, but it was also incredible to see the great battles, the acceleration and the punch in the bumps. It was a great weekend and the French are in a good position. There are good and not so good things, but they’re there.”
“I think getting back to the Alps in Davos will do a lot of good”Maurice Manificat to Nordic Magazine
“I think the return to the Alps in Davos will do us a lot of good. From experience, I know that coming back home and seeing the southern sun does us a lot of good. We’re like Superman, we need energy and sunshine [Laughs]! I’ll normally be in Davos with Team Farté. It’s going to be a great weekend cheering on the French. It’s always special for me to go there.”
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