The absent are always wrong.
Even if the set was far from complete this Thursday in Drammen, Norway, Richard Jouve can still rejoice.
The 27-year-old Frenchman beat Chinese Qiang Wang and his teammate Lucas Chanavat for his first victory on the occasion of his 13th podium, the 4th of the season, by being intractable all day until the final where he made the midpoint difference.
“
Finally a victory, I've been waiting for it for a long time.
I was told a lot that I was the only one to make a lot of podiums without winning, at least that ticks a box.
Having a victory makes me want to keep winning, I hope to continue this momentum
, "appreciated Jouve to AFP.
World number 2 in sprint, the Montgervois won in the absence of Russian skiers, excluded following the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, and the best Norwegians, contaminated with Covid-19, in particular Johannes Klaebo.
"
Certainly the Russians and the Norwegians were missing, but the opportunity should not be missed
," he added.
"
Victory doesn't erase Beijing's disappointment, it was the big goal and it's still painful
he said of the individual sprint at the Olympics last month, which he finished in 7th place, before claiming bronze in the 4x10km relay.
This is the first French victory in the cross-country skiing World Cup since January 2020, when Renaud Jay and Lucas Chanavat dominated the team sprint in Dresden (Germany).
Richard Jouve becomes only the 7th tricolor to win an individual event on the world circuit.
Admittedly, the Russians and the Norwegians were missing, but the opportunity should not be missed.
Richard Jouve
The Frenchman is 95 points behind the Norwegian Johannes Klaebo in the sprint classification (the victory is worth 100 points).
There remains a race in the specialty in Sweden next week and possibly a second if the finals canceled because planned in Russia end up being rescheduled.
Before that, he will line up for the classic 50 km mass start in Oslo on Sunday.
Behind him on Thursday, Qiang Wang became at 28 the first Chinese skier to stand on a World Cup podium in cross-country skiing.
With his 3rd place, Lucas Chanavat validates a 4th podium this winter and consolidates his 3rd place in the sprint classification.