This is a first in the history of the Olympic Games: the biathletes will officiate on a site that they know well, the scene for half a century of World Cup or World Championship events. A site, little cobbler, which often succeeds well for the Blues. Like at the 1995 Worlds, where Corinne Niogret, Patrice Bailly-Salins, Anne Briand and the others, were on the podium 8 times (including 3 times on the highest step) in 8 races.
Émilien Jacquelin revealed himself there in 2020, winning 4 world medals, including gold in the pursuit. So obviously, at a time when Éric Perrot, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Lou Jeanmonnot and Julia Simon (the latter 3 have at least one victory in Anterselva) are preparing to compete in the mixed relay, we want to believe in a tricolor harvest.
“There will not be this novelty and these surprises that we can sometimes have at the Olympic Games, with athletes who reveal themselves on a slightly particular route or a site which is not necessarily accustomed to the requirements of the World Cup,” believes Martin Fourcade. We are going to have, from a sporting point of view, Games which will look more like super World Championships. But with a spectacle that will undoubtedly be enhanced, because the athletes know the site, know the specificities and are used to performing there. »
“The races are likely to be very dense and very close”
In Anterselva, a picturesque valley in South Tyrol where, due to its proximity to the Austrian border, both German and Italian are spoken, the track follows the terrain. “We know it well, we know that it is not easy snow,” underlines Grégoire Deschamps, technical manager of the French biathletes. There are large parts of the track in the forest, large parts in the open. So, due to solar radiation, we don’t have quite the same snow. It’s not very consistent across the entire track. »
“Anterselva is the track on our circuit which has the least deviation on the skis and on which the shooting is the most preponderant,” explains Simon Fourcade, the coach of the French men’s team. To be efficient, you must not fail on the shooting range, especially as the races are likely to be very dense and very close. »
“It’s a difficult track,” believes Julia Simon. Not in the height difference or in the bumps, but it is very demanding, you always have to push a lot. Either way, when you’re in good shape, you feel good everywhere. And when it’s difficult, you have to grit your teeth and still give 100%! »
Julia Simon carried out her last phase of preparation in Les Saisies, at 1,600 m, while the Blues increased the number of training courses at altitude. Like Lou Jeanmonnot, who completed the 2,000m in Tignes. Because the Anterselva site, in addition to its magical setting, has the particularity of peaking at 1,600 m, 500 m above the other World Cup stadiums.
“That makes this site a little more demanding than others,” notes Émilien Jacquelin. Every extra effort can be paid for in cash, so you have to be able to manage your effort well. » “You just have to not get trapped,” says Quentin Fillon Maillet. “It changes things a little, but everyone is prepared,” summarizes Julia Simon.
