New podium for the French cross-country ski team.
The day after Lucas Chanavat's second place in the Goms sprint, in Switzerland, his teammate Jules Lapierre took third place in the mass start (20 km) organized this Sunday.
Author of a solid final straight, the Frenchman resisted the return of the leader of the discipline, Harald Amundsen.
“It’s a track that I like, I had already placed second here during the Under-23 Worlds 6 years ago,” he said afterwards in images captured by the French Ski Federation.
Coming back here brings back good memories.
I had good feelings throughout the race.
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The winner of Alpe Cermis still in great shape!
Jules Lapierre 3rd in the #Goms mass start behind Klaebo and Krüger @SimonDSantos and @RoddyDarragon on fire @Eurosport_FR #ChaletClub pic.twitter.com/syBFXTPI0x
— Chalet ❄️ Club (@ChaletClub_) January 28, 2024
Despite a “very tough” final lap, Jules Lapierre “always stayed on the skis, on the lookout” in his words.
“In the last bump, I put everything I had left into it, I didn't look back, I didn't believe it,” he continued.
I was even afraid of being overtaken on the straight and then... bam, third!
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Also read “Respect”, “mischief”, work and friendship: in the secrets of the French cross-country ski team
The Frenchman finished 12 seconds behind Johannes Klaebo, already winner on Saturday and winner this Sunday after a sprint with his teammate Simen Krüger.
Richard Jouve, sixth in the sprint on Saturday, takes eighth place here.
Top 10 also for women with sixth place for Delphine Claudel in the same event.
For Lapierre, this is the second World Cup podium of the season.
On January 7, he won a stage of the Tour de Ski by winning at the top of the legendary summit of Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme (Italy).