Sunday, January 8, 2023, is and will remain the date on which a French woman won a cross-country skiing World Cup stage for the first time. Indeed, after being third in 2021 and 2022 on this same last stage of Tour de Ski, Claudel did it in 2023 by winning this mythical climb. 

In the French history of cross-country skiing, only three have been able to step on the podium of a World Cup. The first one was Karine Laurent Philippot, in 2005, who was third on a 10km free technique in Lahti, Finland. Philippot was also second, in 2007, once again on a 10 km free technique in Changchun, China.

The second one was Aurore Jean, who was second at the pre-Olympic sprint, in 2013, in Sochi, Russia, just behind the American athlete Kikkan Randall.

Since 2021, Claudel has been getting stronger and stronger. At the last Olympics, she was twice top ten: 9th in the Skiathlon and 7th in the 30km freestyle technique race, when she finished less than 10 seconds behind the third place, Kerttu Niskanen, from Finland. 

This summer, Claudel showed us again that she was strong with her 3rd place on the mythical Lysebotn Opp. 

Here are Delphine’s words for Nordic Magazine after her win at the top of Alpe Cermis: 

“There was a perfect plan, and that’s kind of what happened. The idea was to be well-positioned and in the lead pack at the beginning of the climb. Then give what I know best in the 800 meters before the finish. I knew that I could make a difference on this false flat climb. I knew that I had to put everything into it and that there was a good chance that I could do it. We had talked about it even if we hadn’t defined it as such. I had to be the strongest.”

“It was a day when everything was going well and running smoothly. I was strong physically but also mentally.”

“Making history wasn’t a goal at all. It was also not in my head during the climb. I told myself I had everything to get there and that it could be done. When I got to the top, I was really proud that I managed to give it my all mentally and physically. I had a full race with no regrets.”

And asked if there were changes after her win; here is her answer: 

“Now, I would like to do it in other races that are a bit less unusual than this one. To prove that I can win in different races. My level of confidence has increased thanks to this race. I know I have what it takes to achieve good results,” says Delphine Claudel to Nordic Magazine. 

Read More – Tour de Ski Stage 7: Delphine Claudel Wins At The Top Of Alpe Cermis