Cross-country skiing: Thibaut Chêne’s Blues aim to shine on home soil
In a little over 24 hours, the cross-country skiing world cup will resume after more than 10 days’ rest following a demanding Tour de Ski. And it’s on the slopes of Les Rousses, in the Jura, that it will resume this Friday with the individual 10-kilometre skate races.
On the eve of the launch of this second edition of the French event, Thibaut Chêne, coach of the men’s group, talks to Nordic Magazine about France’s ambitions and whathe expects of his troops, who will be keen to shine in front of a public that is expected to flock to the Jura resort.
- With only a few days to go before the start of the tests, it’s clear that impatience is at its peak…
The conditions look good. We’ve revised the mass-start and sprint finishes. We’ll still have some new tracks, so there’s a lot of excitement and curiosity to discover all that. It’s always nice to discover the training site in World Cup mode. It’s a bit unreal. There’s a gap between everyday life and what we’re going to experience there. And following on from what we experienced in 2023, it’s going to be a great event. Firstly, because it’s popular and there are so many fans coming. There’s an enthusiastic and knowledgeable public. We’re lucky to have that and to be close to it.
- After a Tour de Ski that ended on a high note but with a squad decimated by illness, how are you approaching this event?
Indeed, there’s also a little bit of curiosity, apprehension and excitement about how we’re going to respond on this stage after a Tour de Ski. It’s the start of a new cycle, which isn’t necessarily easy because, for the men’s team, we’re coming off the back of a team that has been entirely ill or injured over the last ten days.
- So is there any uncertainty about the shape of the athletes?
The road to performance is perhaps a little more perilous and difficult in the sense that you don’t have much time to prepare after the Tour. Especially as in the short time we’ve had, we’ve only had sick riders. That adds to the uncertainty. Nevertheless, we’re going there with ambition and the desire to be there on this stage.
“Our ambitions are for everyone to be able to produce races above the average level they can achieve all winter”Thibaut Chêne at Nordic Magazine
- You mentioned ambitions, what are yours for the three days?
The intentions are in line with what we work on each time. Our ambitions are that each of us should be able to finish races above the average level that we can achieve throughout the winter. If that’s what we’re aiming for, to be above the average level and to go for something strong, that clearly means being on the podium or playing for the win.
- To go beyond this average level, the contribution of the public can be a trigger…
Yes, of course. We’re a team that lives on emotion and passion for the sport. In fact, I think you have to be driven by passion to be here. As a result, the public brings an extra soul. That can only help us. And that’s going to be a twofold objective. In other words, having an audience and being at home can also put a certain amount of pressure on us. There’s expectation and that’s great. That’s what we’re going to find at the world championships in Trondheim. It’s also a way of repeating what you might encounter at the Worlds and you have to learn how to perform on the big day. I think it’s going to be a good way of exploring this area and trying to get better and better at managing events and emotions.
- The French squad includes twenty-eight athletes for this stage. Is it important for you to give these young cross-country skiers a chance?
It’s fantastic! When we saw that we were going to be able to have quotas and open them up, it’s always really interesting. It allows us to watch and see how they develop during the World Cup. As a staff, we’re interested. Having new blood also brings energy and a certain desire. These are often people who train a lot and give a lot of themselves to their passion. They’re looking for caps and they’re hard workers. I’m very happy that they can come. We’re in a very thankless sport, so if we can help to see them develop on this circuit, that’s great.
“Performing in national championships or at home is not the same thing as performing in the World Cup”Thibaut Chêne talks to Nordic Magazine about the Norwegian national championships
- On the other hand, the small black mark on the weekend concerns the Norwegian team, which won’t be travelling in its entirety for this stage in Les Rousses (Jura). What do you think?
I can’t believe it. How can you favour a national circuit over the World Cup? I understand that it’s the best nation. I also understand why they do it, but you shouldn’t exaggerate. If I were in their shoes, I’d still be asking questions. Performing in national championships or at home is not the same thing as performing in the World Cup. You can see that their leaders are often those who are also leaders internationally. I don’t know what to think about making selections for these events. After that, I’m not going to do their job for them. They’re the best team in the world and today they do what they want. But I can’t believe that national championships are needed to select athletes for the World Championships.
I think it’s a real shame for the discipline. We’re playing in all the World Cup stages and I think that’s important this year. After that, I can understand what the strategy is or what’s at stake. Sometimes it’s a good idea to take a strategic approach. But this isn’t a stalemate. The Italians are making a stand-off and they’re making a choice. In this case, what’s the point of selecting cross-country skiers for the national championships knowing that they still have the whole early season on the World Cup to see the good athletes. It’s the best nation in the world and I think it’s in their interest to work for the sport.
Then, to clarify what I’m saying, I’d like to point out once again that I understand a team like Italy that’s not playing. They’re going to do a training camp and get ready. That’s understandable. But I’m appalled to see that the world’s number one nation is favouring national championships over World Cup dates. And in the end, they will still have a very strong delegation present. The competitions will be great and we hope it will be a lovely weekend, because cross-country skiing is a popular sport.
Read also
- The full programme for the French leg of the World Cup in Les Rousses from 17 to 19 January
- Les Rousses: the Tuffes stadium prepares for the World Cup
- Changes for the Rousses individual skateboard club
- “Can’t wait to discover this new world”, “It’s incredible”: Victor Cullet Calderini and Ivan Essonnier discover the World Cup in Les Rousses
- “Cloé Pagnier, Clémence Didierlaurent, Léonie Besson, Mélina Berthet and Justine Gaillard, selected for the World Cup for the first time in Les Rousses, were thrilled to hear: “The culmination of a lot of things”, “It’s going to be crazy”, “It’s just wow!
- The (large) French selection for the Les Rousses World Cup
