The harsh law of sport. In Beijing, France did not shine for the seventh day of the 24th Winter Olympics. If cross-country skiing did not bring back any medals, the little satisfaction of the day comes from the historic performance of young Hugo Lapalus, 23, in the 15 km classic.
On the other hand, for the female biathletes, it was not the time to party, just like for the skiers competing in the super-G. For the short-track, the general disappointment continues…
Cross-country skiing: historic performance by Hugo Lapalus
Seventh. Here is the ranking of Hugo Lapalus at the finish of the grueling 15 km in classic style disputed under a beautiful sun in Zhangjiakou. Nothing frightening, necessarily, when there is no medal. However, it is an unprecedented performance in the history of French cross-country skiing. Never has a cross-country skier from the tricolor delegation ranked so well on a classic individual at the Olympic games.
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At 23 and for his first Olympic Games, the one nicknamed “Lapal”, in particular winner of the classification of the best young person last season in the World Cup, therefore already enters the myth of the French background. Until then, the best performances in this exercise were the 14th places of Jean-Paul Pierrat in Lake Placid in 1980 and Vincent Vittoz in 2006 in Turin.
A little further from him in this race, Maurice Manificat, 5th four years ago in freestyle, took 12th place a few seconds from the top ten. Richard Jouve, third tricolor thief, started strong but did not keep up. He is finally 49th.
Biathlon: Anaïs Bescond, captain of a sinking ship
This is a race that will not go down in the annals of French biathlon. In the sprint dominated by Norwegian boss Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, the French did not show their best side. Only the Jurassian Anaïs Bescond, with a 9/10 in front of the targets, positioned herself in the top ten (9th). But the gaps are colossal because she will start more than a minute from the leader and thirty seconds from the podium on Sunday in the pursuit.
Behind the most experienced of the France group, it was very complicated. Especially for Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, double medalist in two races and who will not even see the chase. 68th at the finish with four shooting errors, it’s a race to forget for the Dauphinoise.
Justine Braisaz-Bouchet also experienced difficulties, especially on the track, to everyone’s surprise. With the 32nd ski time and three missed targets, she finished 48th. Her Saisies teammate Julia Simon did a little better with a 29th place (7/10). But the latter will show a breaking of almost two minutes during the Sunday pursuit. A day to forget for the French biathlon, until then medalist in each of the first three races (including a title for Quentin Fillon Maillet).
Alpine skiing: Tessa Worley misses her last Olympic outing
After her failure in the giant slalom and a fall in the second run, Tessa Worley’s hopes rested largely on the Super-G. The opportunity to catch up for the skier from Grand-Bornand. But it has not happened. On a fast track, the French flag carrier did not find the solution and took 19th place. Worley also announced after his race that this was his last Olympic Games. He now has the team event (the team event), on Saturday February 19, to get this medal which is missing from his list.
In the day’s race, two of her teammates, more speed specialists, did better than her. The downhiller from Flaine (Haute-Savoie), Romane Miradoli finished best Frenchwoman in 11th place and will have downhill, her specialty, in her sights. It will be Tuesday, February 15. Tignarde Laura Gauché takes 16th place in this super-G.
Short track: Habemus Pope
The French short-track is struggling on these Olympic Games. The only bright spot was Quentin Fercoq’s qualification for the quarter-finals of the 1000m on Monday and 1500m on Wednesday. But his elimination had dampened French hopes. But Sébastien Lepape, his teammate from Le Havre who distinguished himself.
Placed in second position in his 500m series, he fought but qualified for the quarter-finals, scheduled for Sunday February 13. Fercoq took 4th place in his series and said goodbye to the Olympics.