France's Milhan Laissus, Léonie Perry, Mathieu Blanc and Margot Tirloy won the gold medal in the U23 mixed relay at the World Junior and U23 Cross-Country Skiing Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, on Sunday. The team triumphed in a thrilling 4x5km race, edging out Norway for silver and Finland for bronze. The victory marks a strong performance for the French squad on Norwegian soil.
The U23 mixed relay served as the closing event of the championships in Lillehammer. Milhan Laissus opened for France, delivering a solid leg in the sprint-style format and handing over in sixth position, staying in contact with the leaders. He later reflected on the pressure: “I was under quite a bit of pressure before this relay, because over 5 kilometres there were some really big names in sprinting... I managed to stay with them, even though I dropped off a bit at the end.”
Léonie Perry took the classic-style second leg, breaking away at the front alongside the Norwegian team and passing the baton in the lead. She expressed optimism post-race: “The relay is really a race for the French... I passed my relay in the lead, so I was happy... It was crazy to beat the Norwegians and I’m so happy.”
Mathieu Blanc handled the third skate leg, starting in first but facing challenges toward the end, handing over in third place, 14.8 seconds behind Norway and seven seconds behind Finland. “It’s enormous... My stint was tough: I think I cracked a bit in the last two bumps, but I tried to stay in contact... It’s a happy ending, so it’s wonderful,” Blanc said.
Anchoring the team, Margot Tirloy quickly closed the gap on Finland's Elsa Torvinen before pursuing Norway's Oline Vestad. With one kilometer remaining, she caught the leader and attacked on the final hill to secure the win. “It’s incredible... I managed to catch up with the Finn... When I turn round and see that she’s no longer in the match for the sprint, that’s when I savour it,” Tirloy shared.
This gold follows the French junior team's silver earlier in the day and succeeds the 2023 U23 champions from Whistler, Canada.
