ProXCskiing met Thomas Joly, Team Nordic Expérience, in Trollhättan, before his 3rd place at Alliansloppet. We talked about preparation and goals but also personal life and hobbies.

You were impressive this winter with your solid 8th place at Blinkfestivalen. Do you have other summer goals? Otherwise, can you tell us a bit about your winter goals?

“First of all, thanks! Regarding this summer, I don’t really have goals even if when I take the start of a race, I always want to be good. I want to fight for the win and stay in the leading group until the end. Then I want to become better on the final sprints. The goal is to always be in the group that fights for the win.”

“For this winter, I have some goals. Last year I was once in the top 10, once in the top 15, and several times in the top 20. I want to be more regular, and of course, I want to improve my personal best, which was 8th at Birkebeinerrennet 2022. And as I said before, always be in the group who fights for the win and improve my finish.”

Do you think it helped you to see that you were able to get into the top 10 and fight for the win?

“Yes absolutely! I didn’t think I could stay with the best until the end, especially in a difficult race like Birkebeinerrennet. I realized that it is possible, which brings me more confidence before the races. Now I dare to move more to the front, even at the beginning of the races to be the actor of my race.”

This year, Jeremy Royer joined the Team. You both have a similar profile. Does it help to have him as a teammate?

“Yes, it’s true that we’re a bit similar physically but also in our way of skiing. It helps me a lot because he is very strong and polyvalent. That helps me progress during the training sessions and will also help me this winter on the peloton.”

Do you have one race in particular where you want to perform?

“I don’t focus on only one race. I want to perform globally. But if I had to choose only one I think it would be Marcialonga: it’s one of the biggest, I think the course could suit me well, and it’s in central Europe. I hope to perform well on this one.”

Can you tell us about your favorite summer and winter training sessions?

“My favorite summer training session is the one that I name “Mardi 8h00 à Mouthe” (Tuesday, 8:00 in Mouthe). It’s usually on Tuesday, usually at 8:00, and usually in Mouthe (laugh). We meet with my teammates Antoine Auger, Arnaud Du Pasquier, and Candide Pralong. We do a long training session with most of the time some interval inside, and we finish the session happy.”

“For the winter, I would say that is the pre-race session. For me, it’s really important: I check the race course and try to feel the best as possible.”

When you are not skiing or training, what do you do?

“I am a huge fan of sport in general, not only skiing but all sports. I like to watch all sports, all results. And I also like to analyze the training sessions of my concurrent and other athletes. I spend a lot of time watching other sports. I also enjoy talking about that with my friends and girlfriend, who are also into sport.”

Do you have a Netflix series to recommend to us, or are you watching only sport?

“No, I also watch Netflix. I’m a normal person (laugh). My favorite series is Peaky Blinders, and I like the atmosphere of the series. Otherwise, I was surprised by a series that I enjoyed recently: Manifest. That’s the ones I would recommend. “

To finish, do you have some advice to give to the youngest?

“I would say that the best thing to do is to go to train as long as you can. And if you enjoyed it, go again the day after, the day after, and the day after. And one day, you will be super strong!”