2023-12-20 09:00:33
Winner of the big crystal globe last year, the ski mountaineer intends to play for the top ranks of the general classification once once more this season.
You have just competed in the French championships. How did they go for you?
There were four events and I won the four French champion titles, so we will say that it went well (smile). This shows that the physical and mental fitness is there. It’s good for the future.
How did you prepare for this season?
I now have several years of experience so I am starting to know what to do. There are always modifications and additions to be made but I prepared simply. My big crystal globe I got last year changes a lot of things. I have now achieved one of my big career goals. It was important to me and it frees me a little more. I am more calm regarding the races. There is always a way to improve but it doesn’t just depend on me, but also on my opponents. For my part, I try to identify my weaknesses and my strengths, to work with them.
What are your goals for this season?
The general classification is a goal that I have in my head. Having won it last year allows me to have less pressure and less expectation on that. Given the form I have in all the events, I think I will be able to play it once more this year.
What do the European Championships which will take place at the beginning of January in Haute-Savoie represent for you?
It is an important event in the season. Running in France is always fun. The family can come, the supporters are present, and what’s more, we have a very good French team. There will be great energy. These championships are one-day races so it’s another way of racing and understanding things.
What are you aiming for in this competition?
Above all the sprint and the mixed relay with Émily Harrop. (Editor’s note: These are the two formats integrated into the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games in 2026). These are fairly short efforts that require more specific preparation to do. In two years, the Games will be here, which is why it is important to concentrate on these events. Concerning the individual, I think I can go for a European medal.
Speaking of the Olympic Games, what do you think of those which should be organized in France in 2030?
It’s really a good thing. The Games will help highlight winter sports in France. We have very beautiful ski resorts, certainly the most beautiful ski areas in the world. Winter sports are a large part of French sporting heritage. Even if they concern a small sector, it is important in the country’s economy. The fact that these Games are in France is a good advantage for ski mountaineering. In my opinion there would be no problem for the discipline to continue its path in Olympic history. And why not add one more test, that of the individual.
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