Olympic and World Championships medalist, who retired from the World Cup today, is now ready for Ski Classics. The French star is joining Team Vercors Isère for Birkebeinerrennet next weekend.

After almost 20 years at World Cup level, four Olympic and four World Championships medals, the French legend Maurice Manificat is joining the Ski Classics Pro Team, Team Vercors Isère, for next weekend’s Birkebeinerrennet. 

The French athlete started his last World Cup race today at the Holmenkollen 50km race, finishing in a respectable 47th position, 9:07.9 behind the winner.

Also Read: Klæbo win Holmenkollen 50km

Manificat is remembered primarily for the relays. Of his eight major championship medals, four from the Olympics and four from the World Championships, he only has one individual one: from the 2015 World Championships in Falun, where he took silver in the 15-kilometer freestyle.

Few would have expected Maurice Manificat to be part of the French relay team at the 2022 Olympics. But without the experienced skier, France would likely have been left without any cross-country medals at the championships. 

Despite poor results last year, the 37-year-old gained renewed confidence from the national team ahead of this year’s season, but as part of the B team. 

Read More: The 37-year-old is confident of a return to World Cup level

Manificat went for a total return to the World Cup level this season. He qualified back into the World Cup squad via the Alpen Cup (equivalent to the Scandinavian Cup) and the French National Cup. He made the Tour de Ski squad. He then competed in the World Cup in Goms in January. After his last World Cup stage today, the veteran is ready for the 54km Birkebeinerrennet next Saturday, March 16. 

As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you can follow the event live on our streaming service – SC PLAY.

BIRKEBEINERRENNET – WATCH LIVE ON SC PLAY 

Manificat has one Ski Classics Pro Tour and two Ski Classics Challengers starts under his belt. His best Pro Tour result was 6th place at Engadin Skimarathon in 2019. For the Challengers events, he was 2nd at both La Transjurassienne 2023 and Marcia Gran Paradiso 2024.  

Here you can find Maurice Manificat’s Ski Classics results

New chapter
But even though his career at the World Cup is over, the 37-year-old feels far from done as a cross-country skier. Now, he is making his debut in Ski Classics.

“I will continue to compete. Now, it will be Ski Classics. I have a family to support,” says Manificat to Langrenn.com. 

“I don’t know where and with which team, but it will be a new challenge. I’m looking forward to it. There are the really big races, Vasaloppet, Birken, Marcialonga… It is the heart of cross-country skiing; it is where people really connect with the sport at all levels.” 

In dialogue with Northug
There are four races left in the Ski Classics Season XV. Currently, Manificat has signed with Team Vercors Isère, a French Pro Team. But he has bigger ambitions for next season. 

“I want to go for one of the big Scandinavian teams, and I spoke to Petter Northug yesterday. We talked loosely about possibilities, so we’ll see,” says Maurice Manificat. 

Team Vercors Isère strengthening the women’s team 

Team Vercors Isère is also strengthening their women’s team for Birkebeinerrennet with Emilie Bulle, another French addition to the Pro Team. 

Read More – Team Vercors Isère – Pro Team presentation Season XV

The 26-year-old skier has been racing long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing for some years and recently finished eighth at the American Birkebeiner, a Ski Classics Challengers event.

Also Read: Diggins and Schumacher win the 50th edition of American Birkebeiner

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV

The Season XV of Ski Classics Pro Tour consists of 15 events on 11 event weekends in 6 different countries. The season started in Bad Gastein, Austria, on December 9, 2023, and will end in Norway with the 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale Janteloppet on April 13, 2024.

Next up is Birkebeinerrennet on March 16. The event marks the twelfth Ski Classics stage and another Grand Classics event, Season XV. 

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XV (2023/2024)

• Event 1: December 9, 2023 – Bad Gastein PTT, Austria, 13km
• Event 2: December 10, 2023 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Austria, 36km
• Event 3: December 16, 2023 – La Venosta Criterium, Italy, 37km 
• Event 4: December 17, 2023 – La Venosta ITT, Italy, 10km
• Event 5: January 13, 2024 – 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon, Italy, 62km
• Event 6: January 20, 2024 – Engadin La Diagonela, Switzerland, 55km
• Event 7: January 28, 2024 – Marcialonga, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 11, 2024 – Jizerská50, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 17, 2024 – Grönklitt Classic, Sweden, 60km
• Event 10: February 18, 2024 – Grönklitt ITT, Sweden, 13km
• Event 11: March 3, 2024 – Vasaloppet, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 16, 2024 – Birkebeinerrennet, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 6, 2024 – Reistadløpet, Norway, 50km
• Event 14: April 7, 2024 – Summit 2 Senja, Norway, 60km
• Event 15: April 13, 2024 – Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet, Norway, 100km

More information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour can be found at skiclassics.com