Olympic Biathlon Champion Emilien Jacquelin Debuts in Professional Cycling

Emilien Jacquelin, a decorated biathlete with Olympic and World Championship medals, is set to make his professional road cycling debut on August 16th. The 31-year-old Frenchman will participate in a one-day race in Normandy, followed by the Tour du Limousin stage race, which concludes on August 21st. His transition into cycling is supported by his WorldTour team, Deceuninck-Quick-Step.

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Emilien Jacquelin is ready for a new step on his journey. His goal is to continue progressing at the highest level, while also contributing to the common team goal.

Jacquelin, who joined the team's development squad in May, views this debut as a significant career milestone. Despite a recent collarbone fracture, he has worked diligently to prepare for these races. He expressed his determination to give his all for the team, emphasizing focus over emotions during the competitions.

While pursuing a new challenge in cycling, Jacquelin has not retired from biathlon. He remains committed to his biathlon career, with the 2030 Winter Olympics in France as a stated goal. His coaches have set a clear timeline for his return to biathlon training, requiring his presence by late August or early September to be considered for the upcoming season.

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This is the culmination of months of hard work during which I have done everything I could to be ready for these competitions. I am aware of the opportunity I have been given, but I prefer to put feelings aside, because I want to focus on what I have to do during the race.

His team leadership sees Jacquelin's cycling venture as a way to broaden his horizons during the off-season and step outside his comfort zone. The team plans to analyze his performance in these races to determine future steps, focusing on his integration into the team and learning to navigate the demands of professional cycling.

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His task will be to integrate into the team, contribute as much as possible, and learn how to overcome all the challenges that these professional races bring.