It's D-Day for the four French women involved in snowboardcross, this Wednesday in Beijing, with a good chance of medals.
A blue contingent will also be fielded in the women's slalom, where an explanation is expected between Petra Vlhova and Mikaela Shiffrin.
Find the complete program of the tricolors engaged in Beijing this Wednesday, February 9.
Times are given in French time.
A series to continue in snowboardcross
For three Olympiads, the French women have systematically won a medal in snowboardcross.
They will want to continue this historic series in Beijing (from 4 a.m.), with real chances of a medal among the four French women involved, in a sometimes uncertain discipline.
Silver in Pyeongchang in 2018 at only 16 years old, Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau will thus try to do a double blow, even if she was heavily injured at the start of winter.
The blue hopes may rest more on Chloë Trespeuch, tanned in Sochi four years earlier and very regular in the World Cup.
Welcome to the Olympic Games 🤩
Our races are February 9 for women, 10 for men, 12 for teams!@sbxfrance pic.twitter.com/MxVUB8iBk3
— Chloe Trespeuch (@TrespeuchChloe) February 2, 2022
The immense challenge of the slalom women
Four French women will be present for the slalom event, in the night.
A massive shock is expected there between the Slovak Petra Vlhova, ultra favorite after five victories in seven races this season, and the American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who disappointed in giant.
The step should be a little too high for Nastasia Noens and the other Bleues, who will however try to grab a podium (first run at 3:15, second run at 6:45).
Debut of the Blues in Nordic combined
After several days devoted to training, the first medals will be awarded in Nordic combined this Wednesday (from 9 a.m.), on the normal hill.
The French team, led by its leader Laurent Mühlethaler and Mattéo Baud, will aim for a runner-up, but did not particularly shine during rehearsals.
However, she will be able to warm up before her big meeting: the team event, at the end of the Olympiad.
Meet the Olympic Nordic Combined team from @FedFranceSki 🇲🇫 See you in Beijing, #AntoineGerard, #LaurentMuehlethaler, #GaelBlondeau, #MatteoBaud and #EdgarVallet 💪 #fisnoco #nordiccombined pic.twitter.com/Huh6asqquY
— FIS Nordic Combined (@fisnoco) February 2, 2022
Liam Tourki, proud representative of the French half-pipe
The only Blue, of all sexes, to take part in the halfpipe snowboarding events, Liam Tourki will try to extricate himself from the perilous qualifications (5h30), for his first Games at 22 years old.
He will notably be alongside American legend Shaun White, who will retire after the Games.
The complete French program
Alpine Skiing: women's slalom with Nastasia Noens (1st run at 3:15 a.m., second run at 6:45 a.m.)
Snowboard: women's cross with Chloé Trespeuch, Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau, Manon Petit Lenoir, Alexia Queyrel (First round at 4 a.m.)
Snowboard: men's half-pipe with Liam Tourki (qualification at 5:30 a.m.)
Nordic Combined: Individual normal hill/10km men with Gaël Blondeau, Matteo Baud, Antoine Gérard and Laurent Muhlethaler (9h)
Short-track: 1500m men with Quentin Fercoq and Sébastien Lepape (quarter-final at 12:15 p.m.), 1000m women with Gwendoline Daudet and Tifany Huot Marchand (heats at 12:52 p.m.)