Biathlon: the ax will (has) fallen
As you read these lines, the biathlete of the French team sidelined for the world cup in Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) has already been informed by the technical staff. The general public, the media and the followers, will only know their identity during the dayat the moment when the communication of the French Ski Federation (FFS) decides to publish the list of athletes selected for the French stage of the global biathlon circuit.
At seven in the rounds played at Kontiolahti (Finland) then Hochfilzen (Austria) in recent weeks, the Blues will not actually be able to than being six near the Haut-Savoyard village. Thus, a choice had to be made to know who Julia Simon, Lou Jeanmonnot, Sophie Chauveau, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Gilonne Guigonnat, Jeanne Richard or Océane Michelon will be left by the wayside.
From the outset, we can announce that the first four mentioned are assured of their placeeither thanks to their prize lists and their statuses, or thanks to their performances achieved in recent days.
Gilonne Guigonnat on unfavorable waiver
It is therefore between Gilonne Guigonnat, Jeanne Richard and Océane Michelon that the decision will be made. “It is the performances and the results that will count, and it will be up to us to be the most far-sighted to ensure that everyone is in their best place”promised Cyril Burdettheir trainer, in our columns before the start of hostilities.
With this in mind, Chablaisienne Gilonne Guigonnat, twenty-sixth overall, should bear the brunt of the competition. “There are several options, but you say to yourself that it could be Gilonne Guigonnat who comes out of theu, confirm Frédéric Jean pour Nordic Magazine. She is behind in the general classification, but had a great pursuit on Saturday in Hochfilzen. She could deserve to stay in the World Cup with this top 10. On paper, despite everything, it is logically her [qui sera sortie du groupe]. »
However, the former Bleues coach and consultant for The Channel L’Equipe emits another hypothesis : put Jeanne Richard to rest to find her full of freshness in January. “We know that she is young, that she has potential and that she will come back”he confides.
The option that Frédéric Jean does not consider, on the other hand, is that of seeing Océane Michelon be ruled out : “She is well placed overall [onzième, NDLR]you can't put it aside for Le Grand-Bornandhe explains. Sunday in Hochfilzen, I would have even put her in the relay instead of a leader. »
