The Rousses Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, held at the Tuffes stadium, gave pride of place to the classic mass start this Sunday, January 19. Sweden emerged as mistress of the event for the men but also for the women.
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The classic style mass-starts closed the international event at the Tuffes stadium in Prémanon-Les Rousses, this Sunday January 19. The sun was once again shining and the temperatures were a little milder than the day before. The ever-increasing public went out of their way to encourage the athletes, who came from 26 different countries.
The 20 km course proved to be particularly tiring, with 7 laps to be completed by the cross-country skiers, and therefore 7 obligatory passages in the infernal climb of the springboard and its 24% slope. Legs and minds will undoubtedly remember it.
Cloé Pagnier was the only local skier lined up for the event, with bib number 24. The women were the first to hit the track at the end of the morning. It was the Swede Frida Karlsonn who won, alone in the lead from the 11th kilometer. She finished a magnificent race in 55:29.1. Behind her, her fellow citizen Ebba Andersonn (+ 1:29.9) followed by the Austrian Teresa Stadlober (+1:41.3) complete the podium. “I got a lot of energy on the track from the crowd. They screamed really loud and I loved it, I couldn't hear myself being tired.”she said after her performance.
Frida Karlsonn wins the mass start of the 2025 Redhead World Cup.
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© Sophie Courageot / France Télévisions
The Franc-Comtoise Cloé Pagnier, pushed by her relatives installed throughout the course, finished 27th. As a reminder, the young cross-country skier was participating in a World Cup round for the first time in her career.
“It was quite an experience. It went really quickly, I didn't expect that. From the first lap, I said to myself, 'ah there are still 6 times the huge bump, it's going to be tough !'. I did the whole race with Julie Pierrel, my compatriot with whom I have always trained. It was a really nice atmosphere around the track so I will remember a pretty extraordinary experience on our territory.reacted Cloé Pagnier to the microphone of our journalist Sophie Courageot.
Cloé Pagnier, the cross-country skier from Doubs, after the mass start of the Rousses 2025 cross-country skiing World Cup.
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© Sophie Courageot / France Télévisions
Unfortunately none of the French women entered really knew how to do well in the game. Flora Dolci, the first of them in the ranking, finished 19th.
>> See the full results of the women's mass-start.
-The men's race started at 3:45 p.m. Rémi Bourdin, the Franc-Comtois with bib 26, held on well in the first two laps before gradually giving up places to those stronger than him. The Frenchman Hugo Lapalus was not unworthy and had a solid race. From the start he established himself with the leading men, monopolizing the first places for more than 15 km. He finally finished in a good 5th place, pushed by a white-hot audience.
“I don't think there's much missing again, but it started so quickly in the first laps. I didn't want to let it go so I was trying to jump at every opportunity to try to make the gap. It's a few adjustments that are missing but I'm still very happy. We're coming out with two great races this weekend, it's promising for the worlds so it's going to be cool.confided the athlete to the microphone of Emilien Diaz.
Frenchman Richard Jouve finished 11th, Mathis Desloges 13th, and Rémi Bourdin 22nd. It is an honorable performance for the Doubiste who was aiming for a top 30. He nevertheless does not hide his disappointment after a promising start to the race.
Franc-Comtois Rémi Bourdin, after his mass start of the 2025 cross-country skiing World Cup.
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© Sophie Courageot / France Télévisions
“Frankly I'm a little disappointed because I still got off to a good start. I felt good, I had good skis. I said to myself 'I'm really enjoying myself', and suddenly it wasn't anymore of light. I really suffered from the race. I tried to calm down, to come back with the groups afterward but it was really hard. But hey, I tried to hang on because there was. really fans who were there 22nd. It's still good but I think there was a way to do better today.”the Franche-Comté founder explained to us.
It's been a long time since I had a race like that at the end.
Rémi Bourdin, Franche-Comté athlete
It was William Poromaa (51:43.1), the Swede, who crossed the finish line after a daunting final sprint, ahead of the Finn Livo Niskanen (+0.9) followed by the Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krueger (+ 5.0).
>> See the full mass-start results men.
