At the end of a two-week training camp at altitude in Davos, Switzerland, cross-country skiers Antoine Cyr and Olivier Léveillé feel ready to start the World Cup, the first stage of which will take place from Friday to Ruka, Finland.
Cyr had started the season with a bang last year at Ruka, in an event contested by Siberian cold, finishing in 11e position to ensure his qualification for the Beijing Olympics.
“I had made a villain bong last year at the first World Cup of the season, he imagined, but it will be difficult to repeat the same thing this year in Ruka. To experience exceptional performance, the stars must be aligned. »
If Cyr wanted to achieve his standards for Beijing early in the season, the context is different this year. “We bet on the same recipe as last year by holding a camp in Davos and the form is good, he indicated. We were able to compare ourselves with the French, the Swiss and the Italians during lap times. We gave one last big push before the start of the World Cup. »
Even though it is a post-Olympic year, the results remain important for the cross-country skier from Gatineau. “The objective is to perform well at the Tour de Ski in January and at the Worlds in Slovenia,” he adds. I’m aiming for a top 12.
Revelation
For his part, Léveillé surprised the cross-country skiing world by obtaining a top 10 and a top 20 last year, in addition to qualifying for Beijing, even though he was only 20 years old.
“The goal is to do as well if not better than last year,” said the Sherbrooke athlete. I don’t want to put pressure on myself even though it would be easy to do so given my results last season. I have gained in power and I hope to be able to compete with the most powerful. »
Louis Bouchard also avoids putting pressure on Léveillé. “At 21, Olivier still has everything to learn,” said National Training Center head coach Pierre-Harvey. If we only think about performance, we will miss the essential that will allow him to really perform in 2026, at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Games. »
“The guys are in good form, but it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen at the start of the season,” added Bouchard.
ski tour
Absent from the Tour de Ski since 2019, which was Alex Harvey’s last season, Canada will make a comeback this year to the delight of Cyr, Léveillé and Bouchard. Two top 20 finishes in the first four stages of the World Cup will ensure the athletes of their place on the Tour, but Nordiq Canada is keeping discretionary choices for the selection of the team.
“It’s time for us to participate,” indicated Bouchard. It’s an excellent strategy to allow our athletes to compete with the best. »
“It’s a step in the right direction, to add Cyr. Nordiq Canada proves that it trusts us. It would be fun to meet our selection criteria, but the discretionary choices represent a great open door. »
On the snow since October 20 in Canmore, Katherine Stewart Jones has had a good summer of training. “It remains to be seen if it will appear in the World Cup, but I can’t wait for it to start. I’m aiming for a top 20 spot at the start of the season, but a top 10 later in the year when I’m at my peak. I pushed the training volume in September and October in order to be at my best after the holidays. »
Stewart Jones should also experience her first Tour de Ski if all goes as planned.