January 19, 2016 (Autrans, France) – Snowfalls during the last days and nights enabled the organizing team to groom a 17 km lap in the French mountain village Autrans, the venue of La Foulèe Blanche. 1,300 skiers made their way to Autrans and found “a real winter landscape for the first time this season”, says Petr Novak, the winner of 2015’s FIS Worldloppet Cup in the Worldloppet-TV-Interview.

La Foulee Blanche 42km Men's podium: 1st Jean-Marc Gaillard, 2nd Toni Livers, 3rd Ivan Perrillat-Boiteux © La Foulee Blanche

The athletes had to ski the lap twice and with many up- and downhill sections and only less possibillities to rest it was a very tough but also very fair race. A race, the Olympic bronze medalist from Fance, Jean Marc Gaillard, could win. In an amazing final sprint he beat Toni Livers from Switzerland.

“On the first lap I never thought that it would be even possible to fight for the victory, so I am satisfied with the 2nd place.”, Livers said at the Press Conference. Gaillard is happy “to win a FIS Worldloppet Cup at home in France. I didn’t expect it because I competed at Tour de Ski last week but I really enjoyed the track, my skies, the race.”

Place 3 goes with Ivan Perrillat-Boiteux again to France. Benoit Chauvet, the big favourite placed himself on the 10th position, right behind two times Olympic gold medalist from Italy, Giorgio Di Centa. Last years overall winner, Petr Novak (CZE), felt tired already before the race because “I had to train very hard the last two months because of my shoulder injury in summer, maybe that’s why my shape is not the best at the moment.”

42km women's podium: 1st Aurélie Dabudyk, 2nd Elisa Brocard, Rahel Imoberdorf 3rd. © La Foulee Blanche

In the ladies race the big favourite and last year’s overall second, Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA), made her own race and finished first, 3 and a half minutes before Elisa Brocard (FRA). 3rd place achievedRahel Imoberdorf from Switzerland.

Aurelie Dabudyk and JM Gaillard are now the leaders in the FIS Worldloppet Cup and hence favourites for the title. But everything is open in the Cup as Gaillard lets his attendance at the next stage, the Dolomitenlauf, open and Toni Livers can not start in Austria because he has to replace the injured Dario Cologna in the FIS Worldcup relay next week.

The organizers of La Foulée Blanche did very well in their first season as a FIS Worldloppet Cup stage. All the athletes are very satisfied with the race weekend, the track conditions and the whole organization.

Results

Women here
Men here