Emilien Jacquelin adds event to schedule

Emilien Jacquelin, a biathlete who had previously stated that his 2026 cycling season was over, has added the Singapore Critérium to his schedule. The event, held in Singapore for the fifth time this year, is organized by ASO, the organizer of the Tour de France, and is scheduled for November 8.

Event format and competitors

The race will consist of a 2.5 km loop to be completed multiple times. Jacquelin will compete alongside teammates Paul Seixas, Nicolas Prodhomme, and Rasmus Pedersen for the Decathlon-CMA CGM team. Other notable participants include Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team), and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility).

Jacquelin's cycling history

Jacquelin had previously participated in several cycling events, including the Polynormande, the Tour du Limousin, and the Tour of Great Britain. He finished 88th in the Polynormande, 74th in the second stage of the Tour du Limousin, and 93rd in the first stage of the Tour of Great Britain. He also competed in the 2026 Mediterranean Games, where he finished 14th in the road race.

Future plans and career shift

According to L'Equipe, Jacquelin will skip the 2026/2027 biathlon winter season to continue his cycling career. Simon Fourcade, a fellow biathlete, stated that Jacquelin is "almost certainly 99.99% certain not to be present this winter with us." Jacquelin has also been selected for the road race of the 2026 Mediterranean Games and the Tour of Great Britain, where he finished 52nd in the fourth stage.

Reactions to Jacquelin's transition

Jacquelin's transition to cycling has been met with mixed reactions. Simon Fourcade noted that his absence would be "missed," while Eric Perrot expressed support, saying, "I am fully behind him and, in addition, he is too strong." Meanwhile, Siegfried Mazet commented that Jacquelin's move to cycling is "great" and allows him to "detaching from biathlon to focus on something else and flourish."

Jacquelin's recent cycling events

Jacquelin has also been involved in other events, including the Wallonie Grand Prix, where he withdrew due to a chain drop, and the Coppa Agostoni, where he did not finish. He has also participated in races in Italy, including the Coppa Agostoni, Coppa Bernocchi, and Trois Vallées Varésines. After completing these races, Jacquelin announced the end of his cycling season, stating, "The future remains to be written."

Biathlon training and team involvement

Jacquelin has also been involved in other biathlon-related activities, including a training session with his coach Paul Magnier, where he achieved a 5/5 supersonic standing. He has also been selected for the French team in cycling and has been working on his transition from biathlon to cycling.