Of the ten or so stages that make up the Biathlon World Cup, that of Grand-Bornand is unlike any other. It is not us who say this, but the biathletes themselves: “There’s nothing that can compete with hersummed up Lou Jeanmonnot, runner-up to Franziska Preuss in the general classification before this third meeting of the season. Even foreign athletes feel it.”
At “Grand-Bo”, the public simply has no equal. “It’s unlike any otherconfirmed Fabien Claude. This audience is crazy, chauvinistic, hot.” In total, more than 60,000 people are expected over all four days of competition. And probably more than 20,000 on Saturday and Sunday alone. But from Wednesday, a day reserved for training and interviews with the press, the stand behind the shooting range was already well stocked.
“When I was at home two days ago, I was really looking forward to itadded Jeanmonnot. But seeing that there were already so many people pushing at training, shouting our names… it almost terrified me. We tell ourselves that it’s really going to be something during the races. We spend time in very calm environments and suddenly, we go out and we are asked for in every direction. We don’t really know where to turn anymore. It can freeze us a little.”
Already madness… in training
The atmosphere is so special that Simon Fourcade, coach of the men’s team, prepared his troops several days in advance: “We discussed it last week in Hochfilzen, so that they could start preparing, and be less surprised than they might have been if they had caught it in the face when they arrived here. We’re not used to seeing such full stands during training but it allows us to get into the swing of things..”
Simon Fourcade: “Perrot? He has no limits”
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This platform, facing the targets, is the heart of this extraordinary atmosphere. “In Germany or the Czech Republic, there are also ‘big’ audiences, perhaps even more numerous than herenoted Quentin Fillon Maillet. It’s not the biggest one we have on the circuit. But it is by far the one that makes the most noise.” “The shooting range has always been a pretty quiet place.continues Antonin Guigonnat. Normally, you’re not allowed to make too much noise there. And then we arrive and it’s nonsense. It’s just happiness, but it’s true that it can be scary.”
Especially for the youngest. Jeanne Richard, 22, is already expecting a “captivating atmosphere“after having experienced it… in the stands, in the past. Like Océane Michelon, also born in 2002: “I admit that I don’t know what I’m getting intosmiled the latter. As a spectator, it was already shaking. Oberhof was also shaking but I know that there we are entering into something even bigger.”
Éric Perrot is well placed to talk about it. He is still young (23 years old) but he has already changed dimensions in the space of a few months. He knows: “For a young athlete just starting out, as I was during my last two participations here, that does something, admits the one who now enjoys a good popularity rating. It puts pressure and beyond that, there can be the risk of feeling a little crushed by this crowd.”
When shooting, it can be “scary”
When shooting, the consequences can be very serious. “This is the other side of the coinslides Fillon Maillet. There is silence when we arrive at the targets but then it starts to scream on the good balls, or even the bad ones… it’s quite impressive. The first few times, it can be distracting. Little by little, we try to use it.”
“It allows you to have the media a little less on your back”: Simon and the joys of competition
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This is what Antonin Guigonnat achieved in 2017 to achieve his first podium in an individual race, in the sprint. “I managed not to hear the audiencehe remembered. Since then, I believe that this noise allows me to concentrate even more on the next ball. But I think there are quite a few athletes for whom it’s more of a scary thing.“
Among the Blues, everyone is aware of the possible negative effects. But the benefits are also numerous. Because after all, pressure can also affect the triggers of other competitors. Norwegians included, even if the man to beat Johannes Boe loves this atmosphere.
Go and distract the opponents a little…
The other particularity of the Grand-Bo is the massive presence of spectators – more than 15,000 – around the slopes. “On the ski part, there is no doubt: it boostsconfirm ‘QFM’. Elsewhere, you are often alone with yourself when you reach the end of a track. There, the public will push us for a large majority of the tour.” “The public is generous, it gives voice, it makes its presence felt and it is an enormous strength as French people“, gets carried away by Justine Braisaz-Bouchet.
The very good start to the season for the French clan, as well as the great rivalry between the Blues and the Norwegians, should further shake up the sound level meter. “It’s clear that we have to immerse ourselves and take advantage of this audience in confrontational races, and even individual races, to distract the opponents a little.“, thinks the winner of the big 2022 globe.
The excitement is there. Ambition too. “The French are crazy at this level and it’s so coolmarvels Jeanmonnot. Seeing so many happy and warm people is a source of pride.” “I do biathlon to experience these kinds of eventsrejoices Fabien Claude. I won’t do ten again in my career so I want to take advantage of it. There, spectators expect a very high level. It’s up to us to show them that we are up to the task. And I am convinced that they will be entitled to very big results this weekend“They’re just waiting for that.
