The Blues will test themselves in Sweden, the Norwegians on their side

Were you waiting for the traditional Sjusjoen meeting to get an idea of ​​the form of the French? Forget. Firstly, due to the lack of snow in the Norwegian resort, it was in Lillehammer that Johannes Boe and co. will perfect their condition. Second, the French biathlon team chose another country to prepare for. The Blues are in Sweden, in the home stretch before the start of the World Cup, 2022-2023 edition.

A question of anticipation. “We learned that there was a very small snowfarming (low snow reserve, editor’s note) in Sjusjoenexplains Stéphane Bouthiaux to Nordic Magazine. As we know the site a little, we know that if it doesn’t want to, we can shoot ten days over 500 meters. We therefore preferred to concrete, to be more or less sure of finding the correct conditions.” Hence the choice of Idre Fjäll, where the fear of a problematic coating was less.

No chase or mass start

The tricolor collective will participate in pre-season races this weekend, as part of this course, just over two weeks before the start in Finland (Kontiolahti, November 29). Individuals on Saturday (men at 10 a.m., women at 12:10 p.m.), sprints on Sunday (men at 10 a.m., women at 11:50 a.m.). No direct confrontation (pursuit, mass start), therefore, against the Swedish biathletes, accustomed to the start of the season in ski time.

Bouthiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, is not unhappy with this fight against the clock (and oneself) rather than the adversary: ​​”It’s no worse for the athletes to finish the preparation by refocusing on themselves, without having to think of others. I think it’s more obvious to take cues that way.” Antonin Guigonnat may not be so lucky, sick and uncertain according to Ski Chrono.

Quentin Fillon Maillet, double Olympic champion and holder of the big crystal globe, Emilien Jacquelin, Emilien Claude, Fabien Claude and Eric Perrot are expected to participate on the men’s side. Chloé Chevalier, Paula Botet, Lou Jeanmonnot, Caroline Colombo, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet and Julia Simon are also, on the women’s side. Pregnant, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, crowned on the mass start during the Beijing Olympics, will miss the whole of the season, which begins in a certain way this Saturday.