In the opening event of the fourth stage of the 2025/2026 French Cup, Montblanc's Lison Brouart and Victor Lafrasse posted the fastest times in the U18 classic sprint qualifiers in Méribel, Savoie. Brouart edged out her competitors by over two seconds, while Lafrasse topped the men's field. The competition sets the stage for further races in the national circuit.
The fourth stage of the 2025/2026 French Cup began on Saturday in Méribel, Savoie, with the qualifying rounds for the U18 classic sprints. Cross-country skiers from various regions competed on the tracks, marking the start of this leg of the national series.
In the women's category, Lison Brouart from Montblanc recorded the quickest time. She finished 2.22 seconds ahead of Gaia Musso from Haut-Alpes. Another athlete from Montblanc, Guillemette Baisle, placed third, followed by Clémence Coutaz from Savoie in fourth and Léonie Berna from Vosges in fifth to complete the top five.
On the men's side, Victor Lafrasse of Montblanc dominated the qualifiers. He outperformed Paul Rousset Vachon from Savoie and Basile Grosleziat from Dauphiné. The top five was rounded out by Louis Maquart from Savoie in fourth and Léon Mevel from Vosges in fifth.
This event highlights the emerging talent in French cross-country skiing, with athletes from Montblanc showing strong form. The French Cup circuit, which includes seven stages starting in Bessans and concluding in Prémanon, continues to build on previous rounds, such as the third stage in Autrans. Full results from the qualifiers are available, setting up anticipation for the subsequent sprint finals and other disciplines in Méribel.
