Lucas Chanavat Claims Silver in Lahti World Cup Sprint

Lucas Chanavat made a triumphant return to the World Cup podium on Sunday, securing a notable second place in the freestyle sprint held in Lahti, Finland. The French skier finished just behind Johannes Klaebo, a double Olympic champion and dominant force in this discipline.

On January 27, Chanavat came tantalizingly close to victory in Goms, Switzerland, and this weekend, he once again showcased his talent by clinching the silver medal. With this finish in Lahti, he marked his fifth podium of the season and the 21st of his career. Chanavat's impressive run saw him clock a time just 31 hundredths of a second behind Klaebo, who finished in 2:43.98. Completing the podium was Swiss skier Valerio Grond, who trailed Chanavat by nearly a second, finishing 0.96 seconds behind.

Renaud Jay and the French Team's Performance

Chanavat’s second-place finish contributed to the French cross-country skiing team tying their record for the most podium finishes in a single season, with 14 to date. In the main draw alongside Chanavat, Renaud Jay advanced to the semi-finals but was unable to reach the final round. Meanwhile, Richard Jouve, Théo Schely, Rémi Bourdin, and Jules Chappaz faced early exits in the morning qualifications.