Cross-country skiing : changes in the French squad for the Tour de Ski
The French selection for the eagerly awaited Tour de Ski, part of the cross-country skiing world cup, was announced on Monday morning. In Italy, on the Toblach and Val di Fiemme slopes, five women and eight men will defend the French colours.
And there are a few surprises in the Les Bleus line-up. Firstly, in the women’s cross-country event, Delphine Claudel, who won her first victory on the circuit at the top of Alpe Cermis (Italy) in January 2023, will not be taking part. Her compatriot from the Isère, Juliette Ducordeau, will also not be taking part.
These absences have meant the arrival of Julie Pierrel, who put in some fine performances in Davos (Switzerland), and Léonie Perry, who will be discovering the world’s top level for the very first time in her young career. Flora Dolci, Mélissa Gal and Léna Quintin will be there to support them.
Notable absentees from the men’s team include Théo Schely, Renaud Jay and Clément Parisse. On the other hand, Hugo Lapalus, third overall in the competition last winter, Jules Lapierre, winner atAlpe Cermis, Rémi Bourdin, Lucas Chanavat, Jules Chappaz and Richard Jouve will all be there.
Well established in the World Cup, Mathis Desloges has also been introduced and will be taking part in the Tour de Ski for the first time, as will Forézien Sabin Coupat, who has been performing well in the FESA Cup since the start of the season.
Ladies
- Flora Dolci – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / AS Edelweiss (Alpes Provence) 🇫🇷
- Mélissa Gal – Pays Rochois (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Léonie Perry – La Bressaude Ski Section (Massif des Vosges) 🇫🇷
- Julie Pierrel – Le Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Léna Quintin – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Le Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
Men
- Rémi Bourdin – Frasne Drugeon (Massif Jurassien) 🇫🇷
- Lucas Chanavat – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Le Grand Bornand (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Jules Chappaz – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / La Clusaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Sabin Coupat – Bessat Sport D’Hiver (Forez) 🇫🇷
- Mathis Desloges – Villard de Lans (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
- Richard Jouve – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / Méribel (Savoie) 🇫🇷
- Hugo Lapalus – ARMY OF CHAMPIONS / La Clusaz (Mont Blanc) 🇫🇷
- Jules Lapierre – ARMÉE DE CHAMPIONS / SN Chartreuse (Dauphiné) 🇫🇷
The full programme for the 2024/2025 Tour de Ski
Toblach 🇮🇹
Saturday 28 December
- 12.00: FT men’s and women’s sprint qualifiers
- 2.30pm: FT men’s and women’s sprint finals
Sunday 29 December
- 12.30pm: women’s 15 km CT mass-start
- 2.45pm: men’s 15km TC mass-start
Tuesday 31st December
- 11.30am: Men’s 20km FT individual
- 2.45pm: Women’s 20km FT individual
Wednesday 1st January
- 10.30 am: 15 km men’s CT pursuit
- 12.30pm: 15km women’s CT pursuit
Val di Fiemme 🇮🇹
Friday 3 January
- 12.15pm: CT men’s and women’s sprint qualifiers
- 2.45pm: men’s and women’s CT sprint finals
Saturday 4 January
- 11.00am: men’s 10 km CT + 10 km FT skiathlon
- 3.30pm: women’s 10 km CT + 10 km FT skiathlon
Sunday 5 January
- 2.15pm: men’s 10km FT mass-start (final ascent of Alpe Cermis)
- 15:30: Women’s 10km FT mass-start (final ascent of Alpe Cermis)
- The full programme for the Tour de Ski starting this Saturday
- Federico Pellegrino in the lead, Francesco De Fabiani absent and only five women cross-country skiers: the Italian selection for the Tour de Ski
- Tour de Ski: seventeen Germans head for Toblach this Saturday
- Tour de Ski: Switzerland reveals its selection with Nadine Faehndrich, Valerio Grond and Beda Klee
- Tour de Ski: no surprises in the Finnish squad
- Tour de Ski: Sweden without Frida Karlsson
- Tour de Ski: Norway with Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Heidi Weng… and Therese Johaug
- For the first time, next winter’s Tour de Ski will be held exclusively in Italy
