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Last year’s winner on the Face de Bellevarde, Clément Noël will defend his title on Sunday at home. For four days we will follow the path of the Olympic champion in his adopted resort: from Thursday to Sunday in the heart of the Critérium de la Première neige in Val d’Isère.
Saturday
Track and physical training
After a quiet day, Clément Noël is back on track this Friday. In the morning, in the company of young tricolor slalomers (Anguenot, Rassat, Amiez), the Olympic champion trained, at the foot of Solaise in front of Bellevarde. Three rounds on the menu.
In the afternoon, he performed physical “activation” under the guidance of Romain Velez.
Dedication and raffle
The Critérium de la Première neige is always a place where brands organize various promotional events. So this Saturday at 17.45 Clément Noêl met his fans in the store in the center of the resort for a signing session organized by Bollé. Then, right next to it, he turned to the draw of the first slalom of the season, where he inherited bib number 5.
Express return to the Hotel des Bleus for lunch and evening, slalom weapon vigil.
Friday
A very light program
A quiet day indeed for Clément Noël. His program? very light. No training on the track. Only Alexis Pinturault and Mathieu Faivre finished several races in the morning. The Olympic champion warmed up in the hotel of the French team. Avalin just took a walk outside, “to breathe some fresh air” and performed treatments passing through the hands of physiotherapist Benoit Henard. Ski training is scheduled for Saturday morning, during the giant, at the foot of Solaise, which is also the warm-up track.
Giants in training
Thursday: meeting with the media for Clément Noël. Photo by TG
Thursday
Meet the media
After the second day of training in Courchevel, Clément Noël landed with a tricolor caravan in Val d’Isère. Since last year, Blues has been located in the Hotel Mont-Blanc, behind the UCPA. As every day before the race, the athletes are introduced at a press conference. The meeting with the media – French only – takes place in the hall of the Oreiller-Killy Center, at the foot of the Face de Bellevarde. Smiling and relaxed, the Olympic champion continues interviews: TV, radio and print media. “At the moment, stress is fine, he assures. I am calm. I can’t wait to get started. Like all slalomers, the last one to enter the scene is a bit lame. “The wait, the preparations are long, we know that: you have to be patient. We haven’t had a race in November for two or three years, so Val d’Isère is the start of the season. It allows us to be a little calm during the summer: later we have time to go back to skiing… This year it went well, it didn’t last long. »
Meet the media