09:34. Just a few days ago, we learned that Jules Chappaz would not be lining up for the Tour de Ski, which began on 28 December. In the same breath, her compatriot Flora Dolci, who was ill, was also unable to defend her chances in the Toblach (Italy) cross-country skiing world cup events.
On this New Year’s Day, two other French racers are setting their sights on the legendary Tour. In the women’s category, Julie Pierrel, in her very first career Tour de Ski, is putting her foot down after the opening races were made difficult by illness. In the men’s team, Lucas Chanavat has been forced to throw in the towel, also physically impaired as explained in an FIS press release.
It should also be noted that some of the other nations have withdrawn. Germany’s Lisa Lohmann and Anna Maria Dietze have withdrawn, as have young Swede Maerta Rosenberg, Italy’s Davide Graz and Switzerland’s Jason Rueesch.
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