Pinturault must redo the icing. In delicacy this season, the Frenchman must react on the alpine combined after his entry into the middle running in Super-G. For their part, the snowboarders, led by Merlin Surget, arrive full of ambitions in these Games. Find the complete program of the tricolors engaged in Beijing this Thursday, February 10. Times are given in French time.
Pinturault must go up the slope
In this case, the French will rather have to go down it in the night from Wednesday to Thursday. And with, we hope, more success than during the super G on Tuesday February 8, which he finished in 11th place. But this time, the Savoyard will set off on his queen event, the one he has won so much: the combined. This race, combining downhill and slalom, gave him a silver medal at the Pyeongchang Games 4 years ago. World champion in the discipline in 2019, vice-champion last year, the skier from Courchevel is expected at the table of the best, otherwise this Beijing Olympics would turn into a disappointment. Start of the event scheduled around 3:30.
A nice shot to play in snowboard cross
Loan Bozzolo, Léo Le Blé Jaques and Merlin Surget will be the three French representatives on the snowboard cross track. This Wednesday, they certainly thrilled in front of the performance of Chloé Trespeuch, silver medalist in this discipline. They should be inspired by it. 3rd in the general classification of the World Cup, Merlin Surget has gained in consistency this season and can legitimately hope for a metal around his neck. This event has been quite successful for the blue delegation, which has missed only one podium since the discipline was introduced at the Games in 2006. The men’s snowboard cross is to be followed from 4:15.
Coralie Bentz and Mélissa Gal a test to learn
From 8 a.m. the two biathletes will take the start of the classic 10km cross-country ski race. A race against time where the best time is rewarded with the Olympic title. The two tricolors are participating in their first games and will have a hard time winning a medal. Coralie Bentz is 64th overall in the World Cup standings, while Mélissa Gal is barely emerging at the very top level. But what better than an Olympic event to gain experience?
Nathan Chen untouchable on the ice?
Kevin Aymoz and Adam Siao Him Fa will be aiming for a medal in the free programs which will be played overnight from Wednesday to Thursday around 2:30 a.m. The two tricolors will however have to achieve the performance of their lives to worry the ultra favorite of the competition, the American Nathan Chen. In the short programs, he smashed the world record with a score of 113.97. It seems easier to climb Everest than to beat Chen on an Olympic ice rink.
The complete French program:
Alpine skiing : men’s combined with Alexis Pinturault (1st round at 3:30 a.m. then 2nd round at 7:15 a.m.)
Snowboard : men’s cross with Loan Bozzolo, Léo Le Blé Jaques and Merlin Surget (1st round at 4:15)
Cross-country skiing: 10km classic women with Coralie Bentz and Mélissa Gal (from 8 hours)
Figure skating : men’s free programs with Kevin Aymoz and Adam Siao Him Fa (from 2:30 a.m.)
