Para-cross-country skiing: Karl Tabouret and Benjamin Daviet make their mark right from the start
It’s the big day. This Thursday, the 2025/2026 edition of the para-cross-country skiing world cup kicks off in Canmore (Canada). In Alberta, three events are on the programme for this first stage: an individual 10 km classic, a sprint skating and then a 10 km classic mass-start.
For the French team, the objectives will vary depending on the competitors. ” Our two stars are here to win, the others to gain experience”, explains Vincent Duchêne, coach of Les Bleus, to Nordic Magazine.
Although Anthony Chalençon won’t arrive in Canada until before next week’s para biathlon events, Benjamin Daviet and Karl Tabouret are indeed the leaders of the group.
“For them, the objective is to compete for the podium and show the others that they are already in good shape and will be even better in March for the Games,” says their coach.
First World Cup outing for Cléo Blanc
In the seated category, Alexis Sanchez will be taking part at the start of the day. ” His aim will be to have a good wheelchair race and try to get closer to the best while gaining experience,” says Vincent Duchêne.
Cléo Blanc, competing in the standing category, is simply about to discover the World Cup. Her coach advises her to go “without pressure”, to “have fun and gain experience while seeing the level of the other girls”.
Finally, in the visually impaired category, Maxime Gayet (guided by Alexis Bernard) will round off the day for the Bleus. It’s a style in which they’re a little less at ease, but the aim is to get them into the rhythm of a 10-kilometre race,” says Vincent Duchêne. Then, on Saturday, there will be a skateboard KO where they will have a better chance of performing well.
The start list for the individual 10 km CT
Thursday-Start-List1The full programme for the para-cross-country skiing world cup in Canmore (Canada)
Thursday 4 December
- 6.00 pm: Women’s individual 10 km seated CT
- 6.30pm: Individual men’s 10 km seated CT
- 7.30 p.m.: Women’s individual 10 km standing CT
- 7.50pm: Men’s individual 10km standing CT
- 9.00 pm: individual 10 km CT visually impaired women
- 9.10pm: Individual 10km CT visually impaired men
Saturday 6 December
- 6.00 p.m.: Men’s and women’s sitting, standing and visually impaired FT sprint qualifiers
- 8.00 p.m.: FT sprint finals, seated, standing and visually impaired men and women
Sunday 7 December
- 6.00 pm: 10 km CT seated mass-starts for men and women
- 7.15pm: men’s and women’s 10km standing CT mass-starts
- 8.30pm: 10 km CT mass-starts for visually impaired men and women
- The complete 2025/2026 World Cup programme
- “We’re making the final adjustments on snow”: the entire French disabled sports team is also fine-tuning its preparations in Bessans
- Canmore Continental Cup: Alexis Sanchez and Maxime Gayet (guided by Alexis Bernard) fifth in the individual 5 km skateboard race
