Paris (AFP)

Cross-country skier Maurice Manificat returns this weekend after five weeks of absence, during the cross-country skiing World Cup stage in Falun (Sweden), where sprinters Lucas Chavanat and Richard Jouve will want to find the podiums.

In freestyle skiing, Perrine Laffont will try to continue her flawless journey during the mogul World Cup stage in Deer Valley (Utah), after winning the first five events of the season.

. Background: the return of Manificat

Absent from the Cross Country Skiing World Cup since the Tour de ski in early January, Maurice Manificat will return to Falun (central Sweden).

The climatic conditions and the lack of snow pushed the organizers to modify the format of race, passing from a time trial to a mass start, and to reduce the distances, in the men from 30 km to 15 km in style free, from 15 km to 10 km for ladies.

The triple Olympic medalist (4x10 km relay in 2014 and 2018, team sprint in 2018) will line up on the mass start on Sunday, who signed his last World Cup victory at Ulricehamm in Sweden a little more '' one year on 15 km free.

. Background: Chanavat to catch up

French cross-country skiers Lucas Chanavat and Richard Jouve have conquered the podiums since the start of the season, and Chanavat is in a position to tickle the Norwegian Johannes Klaebo, winner of the four sprints in which he participated, in the quest for the crystal globe of the specialty.

The last race to date in Oberstdorf (Germany) two weeks ago was more complicated for Chanavat, eliminated in the quarterfinals of this test in classic style.

Winner of the freestyle events in Dresden (Germany, January 11) and Planica (Slovenia, December 21), Chanavat has a great opportunity to catch up on Klaebo (46 points) in mid-season, even if the event de Falun is in classical style, where he has done better than a 7th place in his career.

The Norwegian broke a finger in his right hand three days ago and gave up this Swedish stage, hoping to make his return next week in Ostersund and Are, still in Sweden.

. Bosses: Laffont in America

Five events, five victories: Perrine Laffont has achieved the perfect season so far. The 2018 Olympic mogul champion will try to continue her streak this week in Utah, Deer Valley, on the track for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

She finds the station where she had let slip the world mogul trophy in February 2019, a title that is missing from her record (she is double world champion 2017 and 2019 in parallel, non-Olympic event).

With 238 points ahead of Galysheva, its first pursuer in the World Cup mogul ranking, Laffont can take a step closer to a third crystal globe, with two events on the program.

PROGRAM (French hours):

. Friday

FREESTYLE SKI

World Cup stage in Deer Valley (Utah)

Men's and women's moguls: final stages from 2:30 a.m.

. Saturday

FREESTYLE SKI

World Cup stage in Deer Valley (Utah)

Men's and women's jump: qualifications Friday from 9:15 p.m., finals Saturday from 2:30 a.m.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

World Cup stage in Falun (Sweden)

Men's and women's classic sprint: qualifications at 11.45 a.m., final stages at 2.15 p.m.

. Sunday

FREESTYLE SKI

World Cup stage in Deer Valley (Utah)

Parallel moguls for men and women: qualifying on Saturday from 11.45 p.m., final stages on Sunday from 2.30 a.m.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

World Cup stage in Falun (Sweden)

15 km free men at 10:00

Ladies' 10 km free at 2:30 p.m.

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