Thomas Joly’s personal best at Ski Classics Pro Tour is a 4th place at Grönklitt Criterium last winter. He also finished three times on the podium during roller ski events: 3rd at Alliansloppet 2022 and 2nd at Blink Festival and Toppidrettsveka this year. Know more about the French Pro Team athlete in an exclusive interview with ProXCskiing.com.

Thomas Joly, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, is having a solid summer season so far. For Season XV, he can be considered one of the favorites for the Pink Youth bib competition. You can learn more about this French talent in this interview.

Joly, can you tell us when you started skiing? We know that you also did cycling and football when you were younger, so when did you decide to focus 100% on skiing? 

“I started at the same age as everyone around me when I could attend ski school. So, I would say around 6.” 

“When I was younger, I was doing mostly football because I was in a football section in middle school. And when I went to high school and got in the ski section, I went more into skiing.” 

“In middle school, I played football all summer and autumn. Then, skiing during the winter and cycling in springtime. In high school, I continued cycling, including racing, but I started later and later in spring because of skiing, then I stopped cycling at the end of high school.”

Are you now a full-time skier, or are you studying and working simultaneously? 

“For two years, I have been a full-time skier. Now, I have personal sponsors who are helping me, and because of them, I can focus 100% on skiing. I am very thankful to them.” 

Why did you choose long-distance and double poling rather than traditional cross-country skiing? 

“It was quite an early and easy choice. Even when I was younger and competing in traditional skiing, I almost always double-poled. I always preferred double poling rather than skating or classic.”

“When I turned senior, I was selected for a regional team called Team Nordique Crédit Agricole Franche Comté. In this team, there were, among others, Anouk Faivre-Picon, Paul Combey, Claire Moyse, Alexis Jeannerod, Céline Chopard-Lallier, and Roxane Lacroix. It was an obvious choice for me to go all in for double pole with Alexis and Roxane.”

You are a member of the same ski club as Alexis Jeannerod (Club des Skieurs Randonneurs Pontissaliens). Is Alexis someone who inspired you when you were younger?

“Absolutely! Alexis is my mentor and my legend forever! When I was younger and in the ski club, I was competing in regional races. As soon as I could, I was going to watch the national races with my ski club, and Alexis won everything. He was always winning when he was a junior or even a senior. When he started in Ski Classics, he was the only French reaching the top 10, so he was and still is my idol.” 

“I think he is the athlete who inspires me the most throughout my career. In double poling or classic, he has always been a legend. It was really inspiring when I was training with him; he is the strongest training partner I’ve ever had.” 

“Of course, I’ve been inspired by other athletes as well, like Petter Northug and other legends, but Alexis is the goat.”

You finished in the top 10 in Ski Classics several times and reached the podium in international races. Which performance is the greatest for you so far? 

“My greatest performance so far is my top 5 in Ski Classics. The one that gave me the most joy in my career was my first top 10 in Ski Classics at Birken. I didn’t think I was capable of that back then, even more on a hard race as Birken. And the victory that gives me the most satisfaction in my short career is the one on La Tranjsu in France.” 

Do your roller ski’s international podiums have the same flavor?

“They don’t have the same flavor, but it’s still important. There are a lot of top athletes on the start line. Blink Festival, Toppidrettsveka, and Alliansloppet are big races, so it’s still important. And it’s always a pleasure to be on the podium, but I don’t put them at the same level as a winter race.” 

“Yet, those podiums are big references; even if it’s not during winter, it’s still important.” 

And how about the future? What is your dream race? And why?

“Maybe it’s a bit difficult, but the one I am dreaming about is Vasaloppet. For me, this is the most mythical race, the longest and the greatest. So, this is the one I really want to win. For me, it’s a bit like an Olympic title for a traditional skier.” 

“This is my biggest goal for this winter. Even if all the races are important, this one will be the one I’ll go all in for.”