While it has relied on seven elements since the start of the season, the French women's biathlon team will have to reduce its list from the Annecy-Le Grand Bornand stage.
The French women's biathlon team will soon have rich people's problems. After a rather successful start at Kontiolahti, the French staff renewed the same selection for the second stage of the World Cup in Hochfilzen. Julia Simon, Jeanne Richard, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Océane Michelon, Lou Jeanmonnot, Gilonne Guigonnat and Sophie Chauveau will be on the trip to Austria.
The problem is that it will not be possible for the Blues to continue in this configuration for the rest of the season. For the start of winter, France benefits from a seventh quota among women, benefitting from Océane Michelon's victory in the general classification of the IBU Cup last season. But this little bonus is only valid for the first two stages, and it will therefore be necessary to return to six from Annecy-Le Grand Bornand.
The Blues will lose an element
We will therefore have to make a choice. We can assume that Lou Jeanmonnot, Julia Simon and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who are aiming for victory in the final World Cup rankings, are untouchable. The young Océane Michelon and Jeanne Richard (22 years old each), currently 9th and 12th in the general ranking, and respectively 2nd and 4th in the U23 ranking, have undoubtedly earned their place for a little while.
The sixth ticket for Annecy could therefore be played between Gilonne Guigonnat (26 years old) and Sophie Chauveau (25 years old). The latter, crowned world champion in relay with Les Bleues last February, is coming off two full seasons in the World Cup (21st and 20th), and seemed well established at this level. But she missed out in Kontiolahti, not scoring any points. If we add the great start to the season of Paula Botet (23 years old) in the IBU Cup, and who is applying for a return to the “A” team, places will quickly become very expensive among the Blues.
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