After the day of glory at the Beijing Olympics on February 16, Clément Noël experienced a gently sloping end to the season (a podium at Flachau in four races).
“
It wasn't terrible, but it's not very serious.
Afterwards, from mid-April to the end of May, I didn't think about skiing, I stayed away from all that and it did me good.
And in June, we went back to classic, physical preparation and skiing.
»
At the time of regaining momentum in Val d'Isère (slalom of the Critérium de la 1ere Neige, this Sunday), Clément Noël assures: "
The gold medal has not changed anything in my daily life and in my life or not much -thing.
I had a few more requests.
To leave after this medal is a release, a relief, a pride, it's full of things but not an additional pressure.
Far from there.
This title will remain with me for life.
I can turn to other objectives serenely.
"They will focus this season on the World Cup (after finishing 2nd in the slalom crystal globe in 2019, 2020 and 2021) and the world championships in Courchevel and Méribel (February 6-19, 2023), he who finished 7th in the Are World Championships in 2019: “
I imagine that they will be the only ones of my career in France, it will have a particular flavor.
»
Val d'Isère (victorious slalom in 2021) poses the first meeting of the one who will be followed with a magnifying glass: "
Val d'Isère is the first race, in France, at home, since I am at the club from Val d'Isere.
This is a very important step.
Then he unrolls the calendar and his favorite appointments: “
In January, there are magnificent races, such as Wengen, Kitzbühel, Schladming (January 15, 22 and 24), the triptych with for me the most beautiful tracks and the most beautiful atmospheres.
The race in Chamonix (February 4) which I won twice, it's in France I want to be good, the Courchevel-Méribel world championships (February 19) where you have to be at the top of the top , because it is the most important.
The World Cup final will be in Andorra (in Soldeu, from March 13 to 19), I love the track and the atmosphere.
Madonna di Campiglio (December 22) too, I like it.
So, I've kept almost all of them.
No, not Adelboden (January 8), even if I like the atmosphere, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (January 29) where I don't like the track, or anything in fact…
”
When you're talented, you're a bit lax.
This is where you have to poke it
David Chastan, director of the French teams
To rise to the height of expectations, Clément Noël (25 years old; 9 victories in the World Cup) ensures to keep it simple: “
You have to be rigorous, keep working.
We are not going to revolutionize but we work in continuity.
We try to work on regularity in training, arriving at the bottom more often.
We try to correct the mistakes made, to be rigorous about the details.
It's all about the details whether it's the technique, in the head, in the state of mind.
Everything has to be set perfectly.
»
To accompany him in this quest for excellence, Clément Noël knows he can count on David Chastan, the director of the French teams who assures:
“He is a boy who does not tend to take the melon.
He will have World Cup races to digest and possibly prove that he is one of the greats in the discipline.
He knows where he wants to go, he is introverted, very calm.
He is brilliant.
I compare him to “JB” Grange
(slalom world champion in 2011 and 2015).
They are talented and when you are talented, you are a little lax.
This is where you have to poke it.
At times, he is a bit smug, not in the work, in the requirement.
There, you have to sting it.
Do not wait…”
Clément Noël has not forgotten anything about the Olympic whirlwind but the page has indeed been turned: “
the gold medal?
She's in a closet at my house.
Pretty much straight.
I know where she is, I haven't lost her…
” Ready for new challenges.