Who will win the first medal for the French delegation at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics? On what day will it be absolutely necessary to follow the biathlon events? When will Clément Noël put his Olympic slalom title back on the line? And how many medals will France win in total?
It is to answer all these questions, and many others, that we have compiled here the main chances of medals, day by day, in order to help you follow these Winter Olympics as best as possible.
Saturday February 7
How to say? We strongly hope to be wrong but we are not certain that the first French medal will fall on the first official day of competitions. Or it would take a very nice surprise from a downhiller on the Bormio slope (Nils Allègre, Nils Alphand or Maxence Muzaton) or from Romain Allemand on a big air snowboard. Other than that? We don’t see…
Sunday February 8
Come on, we promise, it will be the day of the first Marseillaise. In biathlon, the mixed relay led by Lou Jeanmonnot and Eric Perrot, big favorite. The speed skater Timothy Loubineaud is also aiming for the podium in the 5000 m, a distance for which he was the world record holder this winter for several weeks.
Monday February 9
Not the most favorable day for the blue-white-red delegation a priori but why not believe in a pleasant surprise in the men’s event combined alpine skiing with duos composed of slalomers Clément Noël and Paco Rassat and two downhillers.
Tuesday February 10
First men’s event of these Games, the men’s individual could smile at Eric Perrotthe leader of the Biathlon World Cup, and allow him to unlock his personal medal counter at these Games. On a good shooting day, Emilien Jacquelin can also prove formidable in this format.
Wednesday February 11
Be careful, this is potentially one of the best days of these Games for the French delegation. In biathlon, Lou Jeanmonnot, World Cup leader, or Justine Braisaz-Bouchet can impose themselves on the individual.
Sacred in Pyeongchang in 2018, Perrine Laffont will obviously be a contender for the podium in mogul skiing. Finally, in the evening, the skater Guillaume Cizeron and his new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry will attempt to climb to the top of the podium in ice dancing)
Thursday February 12
A lighter day in theory with, barring a divine surprise, little chance of French medals. Roman Miradolifourth in the super-G World Cup, will go all out in this discipline that day.
Friday February 13
Raise the flags! This Friday the 13th should bring luck to the French delegation. In biathlon, the men’s sprint could smile at Eric Perrot or to another of the French people involved (Quentin Fillon Maillet, Emilien Jacquelin, Oscar Lombardot, Emilien and Fabien Claude).
In snowboard cross, there are three of them who can dream of an Olympic title with the flag bearer Chloe Trespeuchthe Olympic vice-champion Julia Nirani Pereira or the young Lea Casta. And why not two or three medals in this single event?
Finally, in the evening, the skater Adam Saiao Him Fairalready a European and world medalist, will dream of a first Olympic podium at the end of a free program which promises to be spectacular. And come on, let’s be crazy, let’s add a performance of Timothy Loubineaud over 10,000 m.
Saturday February 14
Women’s Day? The biathlon could continue its raid with the sprint on which Lou Jeanmonnot or Julia Simon could shine. Perrine Laffontin parallel mogul skiing, will also leave with high hopes if everything has gone well for him so far.
In giant slalom, it would take an exploit from Léo Anguenot or surprise guest Alban Elezi Cannaferina, 3rd in Schladming just before the Olympics, to offer a medal to France.
Sunday February 15
What if the Antholz-Anterselva site became a French annex? On this glorious Sunday, two races on the program with the men’s and women’s pursuits.
If the sprints have not relegated them too far, all hopes will be high for the French biathletes, obviously starting with the essentials Eric Perrot et Lou Jeanmonnot. Enough to glean a few additional medals…
Monday February 16
A Frenchman on the slalom podium? OK, how about two? Clement Noel will try to retain his Olympic title gleaned in Beijing in 2022 but, as at Madonna di Campiglio at the beginning of January, the standard bearer of the French delegation could well be accompanied on the “box” by Paco Rassatwinner twice this winter in the World Cup.
Tuesday February 17
The collective spirit could be the theme of this day with the men’s relay in biathlon and men’s team pursuit in speed skating in the wake of Timothy Loubineaud.
Wednesday February 18
Some nice chances on this second Wednesday of the Games with the women’s relay in biathlon – which we obviously expect on the highest step of the podium – the young German Roman in snowboard slopestyle and Jules Chappaz on the sprint in cross-country skiing.
Thursday February 19
Not one but two Marseillaise expected this Thursday with Emily Harrop et Thibault Anselmet. Their names probably don’t mean anything to you but you will get to know them because they are the huge favorites of ski mountaineering, a new Olympic discipline.
Friday February 20
Would you like to do some more biathlon again? Eric Perrotalways him, will be one of the favorites of the mass start who could also smile on other French people. Marielle Berger-Sabbatel has a great card to play on his side in skicross.
Saturday February 21
Same program as the day before but in reverse: women on the biathlon mass start with Lou Jeanmonnot and all the Blues in his wake for the last podium of the fortnight; men in skicross with Youri Duplessis Kergomard as a trump card.
Finally, we will obviously not forget Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet on the mixed relay in ski mountaineering.
