French biathlete makes debut in Munich

Amandine Mengin, a 22-year-old French biathlete from La Bresse, is set to compete in her first biathlon show at the Loop One Festival in Munich. Selected as third in the general ranking of the IBU Cup from the previous winter, she will race in the 1.8 km loop in the Munich Olympic Park, which is expected to draw thousands of spectators.

Mengin's event experience is limited

Mengin expressed uncertainty about handling the pressure and noise of the event, calling it a "key point" for her development. She had initially planned to compete in the Summer Tour in Arçon but changed her plans after training in Ramsau, Austria.

Team strategy divides athletes between events

The French biathlon team has opted not to send all its top athletes to the Loop One Festival, instead splitting the team between Munich and Arçon. This decision was influenced by pressure from the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to field a competitive team in Munich.

Selected athletes for Munich event

Five members of the French B teams were chosen from ten biathletes retained for the event, including Julia Simon, Océane Michelon, Voldiya Galmace-Paulin, Paula Botet, and Amandine Mengin. Other athletes, such as Eric Perrot and Gaëtan Paturel, will also compete in Munich, some traveling from Barcelona for a final training session in Font-Romeu before heading to Bavaria.

Para biathlon absence due to injury

France will not be represented in the para biathlon events at the Loop One Festival. Karl Tabouret, initially selected to compete, withdrew due to a shoulder injury. His coach confirmed that Tabouret retriggered a more intense pain while running and required a scan to assess the injury.

Other athletes not participating in Munich

Benjamin Daviet, who could have potentially replaced Tabouret, is undergoing a unique preparation and will not be present this week. Anthony Chalençon, who became a father for the second time during the summer, is training outside the group and will return to Bessans in November.

Munich event includes multiple competitions

The Loop One Festival in Munich will feature two days of competition, including shooting trials, super sprint qualifications, and mass starts for both able-bodied and para biathletes. The program includes multiple rounds for men's and women's super sprints, with award ceremonies for both categories. The event will take place on October 17 and 18, with specific time slots for each activity.

Arçon hosts challenging Summer Tour

In Arçon, the Summer Tour will be held at the Florence Baverel Stadium, a track described as extremely demanding due to its sequence of hills that create gaps between athletes. Ilann Dupont, a 21-year-old biathlete from the Doubs, noted that the track's difficulty is due to the lack of recovery time and the challenging downhill sections.

Arçon event includes age-group races

The Summer Tour in Arçon will include multiple training sessions and races for different age groups, including U17, U19, U21, and senior athletes. The program includes sprint and pursuit races, with award ceremonies for each category.

French teams train for upcoming season

The French biathlon teams have been training together since the beginning of last week for the second-to-last training camp ahead of the 2026/2027 season. Male athletes involved in the Arçon Summer Tour have already departed for the Saugeais region, while female athletes have arrived from Ramsau, Austria. Some athletes, such as Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, are continuing isolated preparation outside the main group. The event will also feature the French Senior Pursuit Championships, with races scheduled for October 18.