Overview
- All four French entrants — Jules Chappaz, Théo Schely, Lucas Chanavat and Richard Jouve — were eliminated in the Olympic sprint classic quarterfinals.
- Chappaz, third in qualifying, was edged out in a loaded heat and said illness and several days of minimal eating sapped his energy.
- Supporters in La Clusaz watched on a big screen in heavy rain and reacted with tears, with Olympic champion Anaïs Bescond calling the result cruel.
- Norway’s Johannes Klæbo dominated from qualifying through the final to take victory, with American Ogden second and Norwegian Vike third.
- French athletes noted a longer, more demanding race profile that favored Klæbo, and they vowed to rebound in upcoming relay and team-sprint events.