2007, World Championhips in Antholz

Friday morning, February 9 : I am in the village centre of Jougne, a few kilometres away from the Franco-Swiss border. The meeting place for those who want to join the bus that goes to Antholz, is at the skilifts parking place. I saw a quite large range briefly after the border, yet, to waive up any doubt, I drove to the village ... which turned out to be an intelligent measure because both a native and Emile Jeannier, whom I reached by telephone, confirmed that the modest parking before an even more modest skilift was the right one. But no critics now, particularly since I have brought a large Swiss flag along, which could be easily regarded as a small provocation, on the one hand on the other hand no less than Kiki Gros is waiting for the bus, too !

In order to lend to this journey the necessary momentum, I take immediately a bottle "Waadtländer white wine" from my backpack : even before reaching the custom it is emptied. The plastic glass I had kept for me was however scratched, so that most of the drink poured out on myself and flowed on my legs! Let us hope that this will remains the only bad luck for this weekend …

One and a half hour later and already a French victory ! We make a stop at the Grauholz, where 1798 the troops of General Balthasar of Schauenburg defeated the last Bernese resistance. The weather is beautiful and offers a marvellous view on the Alps; the Gurnigel, place of other actions of sporty nature, seems to wish us a good journey in its winter outfit.

The musical atmosphere corresponds perfectly to our goal: the house-made Best OF's celebrate the accordion in all possible variations and "Anton aus Tirol" invites himself on board too, yet for the moment the people from Doubs make excalmations at the beautiful Swiss landscapes ! Some sausages later Cicco, the only Alsaco-Corsican brewer in Chur, was taken up in Trübbach, the village of Martina Hingis, in which I destroyed a military bicycle about 10 years ago, on the occasion of a fall from where I was luckily only slightly injured ! Cicco's "ammunition" allowed to celebrate the meeting again of the old comrades of Andermatt. At the back of the bus sounded loud songs and national anthems already.

We finally arrived in Bozen, where our hotel was and where the evening was one of the short and calm kind, as tomorrow we had to get up at 6 o'clock. On the other hand we must confess that this had been a hard day for us !

On the next day we left later than the announced timetable, because the hotel was not able to deliver the food in time. As we would return late, we wanted to take it with us. Despite a lot of traffic which lets us measure the extent of the event, we arreived early enough at the competition site. We are happy to be welcomed by Florence Baverel-Robert herself who proved her greatness both on and aside the track by distributing something 90 blue caps, embroidered with her name and the French flag !

Well equipped our crowd stormed peacefully the Biathlon stadium where a party of the European peoples (actually, most of them are Germans and Norwegians) was in full course. Cicco, "JPC" and I take place at the edge of the track, in order to follow the mens' relay. The weakness of the place is that one hardly sees the somewhat far installed large screen and although you see the athletes pass by, we missed the actual race … But it's not that bad because I have "Enzian" and "Pflümliwasser" with me who can compete with the wonderful landscape of Antholz … I make a Bavarian acquaintance and they let me taste some of their "Obstler" : nicely meant, but Swiss distillers can keep cool … On the track nothing important happens, both Swiss and the Frenchmen come far behind the Russians.

Even if we were live at the scene, we must be convinced by one fact : in order to pursue a Biathlon races, in particular the key moments at the shooting range, the TV is very usefull. Realizing this, we immediately changed our place after the end of the relay race and went directly near the large video screen, briefly before end of the peak of the "Huber Alm". The time passed fast, because we tried to recognize the athletes at the warm up : Guseva, Kocher, Hitzer, Delphine Peretto, Gregorin… The starting time gets closer: Introduction of the participants, music underlining the tension, the production is perfect, the tension rises… We still believe to have super places when a whole set of technicians places itself exactly before us! How unfair! By the way, except Christian Dumont, hardly any of them is was carrying a radio or sticks, speak their presence is not that necessary … Yet,they will make us the favour to kneel, so that we can see the screen. But it is not so bad finally, because our excitement is so big that with each passage of the athletes, the crowd turns crazy : those who are in front cry, those who are behind cry, everybody cries, everything is only an unclear disorder, the idols of sport pass by in the midst of a mess of arms bodies and flags,… would the end of the world arrive now, we would hardly notice it !

The triumph goes to Andrea Henkel who continues its most successful season ever, before two fellow Germans : the German attendance smile, however I believe that it would not be less the case if the result had been different. The valley of Antholz is a unique "Biathlonland", everybody is happy and smiles, a majestic atmosphere … When I go toward the stadium, out of which a quantity of multicoloured fans flows, I discover Anne Marie, Pauline Macabies' mother, whom I met the last year on the Gurnigel … if we had tried to meet, we wouldn't have made it.

And as I go to the shuttle bus stop, I conclude that I am in a lucky day because I meet Jacqueline, the aunt of Pauline and member of the Organization Comitee of the European Cup which will take place soon in Bessans; she understands to use immediately the favour of the hour, by giving me a bunch of flyers to distribute to my people. But still further lucky coincidences should come. After I visited the celebration place of Antholz-Mittertal and its "Medal Plaza", without seeing my colleagues Cicco and JPC, I used my mobile phone to meet them in the right tavern, not without I firstly walked through the halls of a "yellow " restaurant (description Cicco) with my 2m50 long flag, the restaurant could easily compete in the World Championship of cosiness. I Finally found the place, in order to find out that my two comrades were sitting a table beside … Mr. Besseberg, the president of the IBU!! And this "self-appointed" biathlon fans had not recognized him … Cicco immediately proved the fact that a certain measure of insolence belongs to the apparatus of every Frenchman by addressing "Mr. President" in order to make some lobbying for a World Cup in France ! Hopefully that does not prove as a disservice: lol:

After a long waiting period to get a sausage (maybe the only accusation you could made the responsible) the victory ceremony with the "crazy show man" of Antholz as a Master of Ceremony arrives and finally a good, small cigar smoked in the Disco tent, we start to Bozen. All were rather tired, what surprises me, because I personally felt totally fit.

The next day begins exactly the same as the previous one with military music and hunters songs, but my voice has already given up. Nore did I carry my bulky patriotic accessory with me since its "volume/usefulness ratio" was negatively today, as the only Swiss in the mass start would be Matthias Simmen . After two years of frustration, would today be one day with historical dimension for the Germans? In order to pursue the race, I decided myself for the giant grandstand with consideration that one must have experienced that at least once. Even if I am surrounded by pleasant German fans, one of them with a hand siren, I must agree that the large screen is of advantage here, in order to pursue the shooting.

On the other hand the athletes are already so far away that the show is actually not that thrilling. The Germans make it and place themselves directly before the French, whose characteristic commitment to the team was again demonstrated and which results in the little globe in the relay! Bravo!

Still the mass start of the men and vague hopes of shooting good pictures remained, but the cloudy sky and the large crowd at the edge of the track would prevented it...

So, there's only the way home left, which would take place partly at night: we reached Jougne only around 02,40. We came are back home, happy and lucky about strenghtening the solidarity under Biathlon fans, fan of the French team. See you soon in Bessans and Grand Bornand and also the General Assembly at the Chaux-de-Gilley on June 9th !

Samuel Dougoud

2005/2006

2006/2007