(Montreal) Léo Grandbois put away his biathlon rifle in 2019 in order to redirect his athletic career towards cross-country skiing. Four years, surgeries and a pandemic later, he’s part of the Canadian team that competes in the first four World Cup stops of the season. The Sherbrooke athlete had the opportunity to experience a first full weekend of competition in Ruka, from November 24 to 26, where he scored 64e65e and 69e places.
Rankings which could improve in the coming weeks given that two operations have slowed down his preparation in recent months. Indeed, Grandbois tore the meniscus in his left knee in the spring. After surgery and recovery, his knee held up over the summer before failing again in early October.
“It was a pretty stressful moment when it happened. It was not ideal for it to happen so close to the start of the season,” he explained last Saturday. “I was seen the next day (for another operation) and I recovered really well. I count myself lucky to be racing anyway. »
The trap he doesn’t want to fall into is working extra hard to make up for lost training sessions at the risk of getting injured again. Being well surrounded by his trainer Louis Bouchard and the team of specialists at the Pierre-Harvey National Training Center (CNEPH) helps him get back into shape.
“In my head I’m 100% and the knee doesn’t hurt, so that’s good. It’s going to get better and better,” adds the one who is aiming for top 30 in the World Cups played before Christmas. “I’m happy to be here and I see that it’s competitive. I expect better in the races to come. […] I’m still as hungry as I was at the beginning. »
Louis Bouchard was encouraged by the performances of Grandbois who earned his place on the national team thanks to his four victories in four races at the Canadian Championships last spring.
“I am surprised that he is here (in the World Cup) and even the whole team of specialists, physiotherapists and doctors is too. Really. He had a very quick rehabilitation and we are really happy. […] This is excellent, considering everything he went through during the summer. »
In his first appearance in the World Cup, in February 2022, the cross-country skier was parachuted into the Lahti event, in Finland, just after his participation in the Under-23 World Championships, where he notably obtained a ninth place for the classic 15 km.
“I think he arrived at 3 a.m., so he wasn’t prepared,” said the coach. There, he is in the World Cup until Christmas and he still has four weeks of races to see how he will evolve and continue to pay attention to himself, so it will be interesting as a learning experience, that’s for sure,” added Bouchard.
No regrets
Léo Grandbois has fond memories of his years in biathlon, but he does not regret his change of discipline.
“I was in love with the ski portion of the biathlon and that’s why I changed sports. […] Everything I loved about biathlon, I have in cross-country skiing. I’m well surrounded and my teammates are good friends and competitive guys who help me move forward. »
One of these teammates is Antoine Cyr, who adds that the presence of Grandbois is motivating in training.
“It takes courage to make the change from biathlon to cross-country skiing. We don’t realize it, but biathlon is a sport that is really different from cross-country skiing. This is a great addition to the CNEPH team. »
When he skied with a rifle on his back, Grandbois did all his runs freestyle. In cross-country skiing, he now divides his time between freestyle and classic style. And surprisingly, it is in classic that the 24-year-old cross-country skier experiences the most pleasure.
“I don’t know why, but classic suits me well. It’s even more with the upper body and muscle. When you have the right skis and the technique is there, you are like a train on the tracks. That’s how I feel when things are going well.”
Louis Bouchard confirms this: “Now, Léo is better in classical. Curiously, when he arrived in our sport, he found it easier to express himself in classical than in skate (freestyle). »
Léo Grandbois will have another chance to express himself in the World Cup when he will be back in action on Saturday, in Gällivare, Sweden.