"We want to tackle something in every race": The French cross-country skiers launch their World Cup season in Ruka

The French cross-country skiing team is set to kick off their World Cup season this Friday in Ruka, Finland, with a 10 km classic event. This marks the beginning of a season where the French team intends to showcase their talents, especially with the Milan Olympics approaching in a year.

Romain Donneux reported on November 28, 2024, at 18:46.

Unlike in previous years where the focus was solely on surviving the races, the team now aims to perform competitively. They’ve prepared well, supported by notable athletes like Richard Jouve, Lucas Chanavat, and the emerging talents like Jules Chappaz, who earned a bronze medal in the sprint at last year’s world championships.

"The group has grown, and we have ten men and six women now. Chefs like Mathis Desloges and Remi Bourdin showed promising preparations. We will have seven spots in the World Cup to start, and we’ll rotate based on performance," explained Alexandre Rousselet, the team's World Cup manager.

Though Clément Parisse, a key distance athlete, is absent due to his diploma preparations, the team is optimistic. Rousselet mentioned, "We want to tackle something in every race, with the focus not just on endurance but on performance as we lead up to the World Championships in Trondheim."