Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen defeated Eric Perrot in the final stretch of both races at Blink. Now, the French biathlon star is intensifying his collaboration with his golden coach.

Eric Perrot was defeated on both days of the Blink festival. The French Olympic and World Cup champion is now set to learn from Siegfried Mazet, Norway’s gold coach for the past decade and the man behind stars like Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø.

“I greatly appreciate the relationship we are developing,” Perrot told NordicMag after finishing second in both races in Sandnes.

“He is here to share all his knowledge and experience, especially what he has gained after ten years in Norway and previously in France. I have things to learn, so I listen.”

Also Read: Sjåstad Christiansen claims biathlon mass start victory at Blink Festival 2026

The story continues below.

Outside the National Team

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who has a Norwegian mother, has been outside the national team all summer. Instead, Perrot has traveled around Norway in a camper van with his girlfriend Chloë Lacreuse.

“I needed some time alone to work on myself. The coaches understood and respected my choice,” Perrot explains.

However, as of August 1, Perrot officially returned to the French national team, which recruited Norway’s gold coach Siegfried Mazet after he resigned from the biathlon federation following the Olympic season. After ten years with the Norwegian elite team, Mazet moved directly to the top position with the French team.

Read More: New French coach announces major change

High expectations

The Blink Festival marked Mazet’s first real encounter with Eric Perrot. However, their collaboration began even before that.

“He wanted insight into how I work, so he called me a few times over the summer, so we wouldn’t have to start from scratch when I returned to the team in August,” Perrot says, emphasizing the importance of starting the collaboration on the right track.

“That contact is crucial for him to apply his expertise in important areas, especially now as I come back after two months alone.”

“I have things to learn”

After the first week together in Sandnes, the biathlon star is full of praise and looks forward to working closely with Mazet moving forward.

Both Eric Perrot and Siegfried Mazet are now heading back to France, where they and the rest of the team will gather in Bessans until August 21.

The World Cup kicks off on November 26 in Kontiolahti, Finland. At Blink, the French star was indeed defeated in both races.

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2026/2027 winter season

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