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EditoWelcome to La Clusaz For the 6th time, the unique French stage of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup tour 2013 presented by Viessmann will take place in La Clusaz, on January 19-20. Not only has this international ski resort been the home of a number of champions, it has also proven its effectiveness in organizing sports events on many occasions. This year again, hundreds of volunteers will bring their support to create a wonderful representation. During this “Nordic week end”, the heavenly Plateau des Confins will host more than 200 athletes and the best cross country skiers in the world, 150 journalists, and 350 volunteers for the pleasure of some 20.000 spectators. Welcome and enjoy this weekend of sport and passion!

The Press Secretary

1. programFiS CroSS-CoUNtrY WorLd CUp 2012/2013 prESENtEd BY ViESSmaNN November 24 to 25, 2012, Gaellivare, SwedenNovember 30 to December 02, 2012, Kuusamo, FinlandDecember 07 to 08, 2012, Quebec, CanadaDecember 13 to 16, 2012, Canmore, CanadaDecember 29 to 30, 2012, Oberhof, GermanyJanuary 01, 2013, Münstertal, SwitzerlandJanuary 03 to 04, 2013, Cortina – Toblach, ItalyJanuary 05 to 06, 2013, Val di Fiemme, ItalyJanuary 12 to 13, 2013, Liberec, Czech RepublicJanuary 19 to 20, 2013, La Clusaz, FranceFebruary 01 to 03, 2013, Sochi, RussiaFebruary 16 to 17, 2013, Davos, SwitzerlandMarch 09 to 10, 2013, Lahti, FinlandMarch 13 to 2013, Drammen, NorwayMarch 16 to 17, 2013, Oslo, NorwayMarch 20, 2013, Stockholm, SwedenMarch 22 to 24, 2013, Falun, Sweden

2. CompEtitioNS prESENtatioN

As the unique French Stage of the FIS Cross Country World Cup presented by Viessmann, La Clusaz organises four competitions (two ladies competitions, and two men competitions):

Saturday, January 19, 2013 - Ladies: 10 km Classic – Classic technique Mass Start - Men: 15 km Classic – Classic technique Mass StartSunday, January 20, 2013 - Ladies : Relay 4 x 5 km – Classic technique for the first two relay runners, Free technique for the next two ones - Men : Relay 4 x 7.5 km – Classic for the first two relay runners, Free technique for the next two ones

3. La CLUSaz

Located in the Northern Alps, La Clusaz enjoys an exceptional resort. In this area of preserved nature, skiers can experience all kinds of gliding sensations from December to April. With the Chaine des Aravis as a mountain setting, La Clusaz is a jewel of both authenticity and modernity, which has managed to develop its leisure activities while keeping the charm and dynamism that makes it a cosy mountain village. Here people can shop and enjoy various leisure activities all year long. The partiers will appreciate the different ambiances bars, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs offer to ensure unforgettable nights. Every winter, a magical atmosphere takes hold of the resort. La Clusaz also offers a large panel of events, a tradition that has contributed to building effective competences and experience in organizing sports events. For the 6th time, in January 2013, La Clusaz will host the Cross country FIS World Cup on the Plateau des Confins. With the 9 world champions La Clusaz has borne, and particularly the big name of cross-country that is Vincent Vittoz, this home of young talents is definitely the resort of all possible winter practices.

3.1 The PlaTeau deS Confin STadium : an exCePTional areaFor 25 years already, the competition has taken place on the unique and amazing Plateau des Confins, a Nordic skiing area nestled at the bottom of the grandiose Aravis valleys, above the Lac des Confins, famous for its beautiful setting and its easy access. La Clusaz Nordic stadium is known for its compact course and enjoys spectacular loops, which are visible up to 80% from the stadium. This characteristic has been particularly appreciated both by the FIS organisation and the In Front broadcasting company as well as the public. Indeed, the spectators will be able to see and encourage their favourite skiers nearly all along the course and from very close thanks to the plateau layout and the visibility it offers. The Plateau des Confins has been the official site of the 1987, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 World Cups and is the most popular Nordic skiing area in Haute-Savoie. This wonderful plateau stretches 50 km of groomed courses, included a 7 km course connecting with Grand-Bornand cross-country area, and has been quality labelled ‘Nordique France’ with 4 ‘Nordiques’ (from 1 to 4 fir trees representing the quality of a cross-country skiing area) for 10 years. As a matter of interest and as a proof of La Clusaz’s commitment to ecology, the Plateau des Confins is the only Nordic skiing area to use an electric snowmobile, which is a 100% quiet and eco friendly.

3.3 The Snow STadium It is composed of 3 courses exclusively designed for the event and conforms to the criteria imposed by the FIS:

• A 3.750 km course for the individual Men competition. Maximum climb: 44 m Total climb: 111 m.• A 3.300 km course for the individual Ladies competition and Men relay. Maximum climb: 37 m Total climb: 81 m• A 2.500 km course for the Ladies and Men relays. Maximum climb: 25 m Total climb: 81 m

3.2 la CluSaz’S ‘nordiC week’To honour cross-country skiing and have this sport (re) discovered by young people, various animations and initiations will be proposed in the village from Wednesday 16 till the end of the weekend. Everyone will also be invited to attend the official trainings of the various national teams from Thursday 17.On top of that, the traditional ‘Ronde Nocture’ (a cross-country sprint competition by night) will take place on Wednesday 16 in La Clusaz. Free access and funny ambiance guaranteed!

3.4 CharaCTeriSTiCS of la CluSaz nordiC Skiing area • 2 plateaux: Beauregard (1600 m), Les Confins (1450 m) • 86 km of courses: 50 km on the Plateau des Confins, 36 km on the Plateau de Beauregard • 24 courses: 13 courses on the Plateau des Confins 11 courses on the Plateau de Beauregard • 1 ‘skating only’ loop (all the loops can be skied either in classic or in skating) • 1 kinder garten • 1 connection course: a 7 km black course connecting to Grand-Bornand • 1 cross-country skiing school • 1 Nordic cross and 1 Fun Park

4. gaThering The BeST inTernaTional aThleTeS

This FIS World Cup stage is a major competition for the best Nordic international athletes and will gather big names as Dario Cologna, Petter Northug, Marit Bjoergen, Justyna Kowalczyk, Therese Johaug or the French Jean Marc Gaillard and Maurice Manificat. Up to 30 nations and 200 athletes are expected and will compete for a world title, supported by the 20.000 spectators that will come and share their emotions.

As skiing enthusiasts, the French athletes represent our mountain villages on the international cross-country tours. They will be about twenty to compete under the French standard and try to make the French supporters’ hope and dreams of victory come true. We will be able to rely on our best French athletes - namely Jean Marc Gaillard, Christophe Perillat, Robin Duvillard and Ivan Perillat-Boiteux for the Men, and Laure Barthélémy, Anouck Faivre-Picon, Aurore Jean and Coraline Hugue for the Ladies - to be present at this rendezvous.

5. CroSSed inTerview of vinCenT viTToz and Jean marC gaillard

in short : Vincent Vittoz : • FIS Cross Country World Champion (Obertsdorf, GER, 2005)• Word Cup: 9 individual victories, 1 team relay victory, 10 individual 2nd places, 1 team relay 2nd place, 8 individual 3rd places, 4 team relay 3rd places• 2nd at the general World Cup ranking (2005), 3 times 2nd at the general long distance World Cup ranking (2005, 2006, 2007)• Double FIS Roller Ski World Champion (Cogne, ITA, 2002)• 3 times Military Cross-Country France Champion (2007, 2008, 2009)• 38 times Senior Cross-Country France Champion• twice 4th of the Olympics team relay ( Turin, Vancouver)• 5th at the Vancouver Olympics 15 km free

Jean-marc gaillard• World Cup: 1 individual victory, 3 individual 2nd places, 1 team relay 2nd place, 2 individual 3rd places, 2 team relay 3rd places• 3 times Senior France Champion• 4thof the Vancouver Olympics team relay

- For you, what is the importance of the sole French stage of the World Cup in La Clusaz?VV : The World Cup in La Clusaz has always been a moment of great emotions for me. As an athlete, it was a chance for me to be able to compete in my village where I started cross-country skiing as a kid, and where all the inhabitants gather their efforts to make this event a success. I still thrill to the remembrance of skiing before my family and in such a wonderful ambiance. I am very glad La Clusaz hosts the World Cup this year again. The resort has great competences in organising sports events and athletes love skiing in such a beautiful setting as Les Confins. It is also very important for the French cross-country team, for it is a pretty good way to show what it is capable of, and it is a very good experience for all the cross-country skiers in our country.

Jmg : The World Cup in La Clusaz is always a key stage in the competition calendar. It happens only one year out of two so it is always one of the biggest events of the season. This is a local stage, we are nearly home, so our relatives can come and support us. I have personally skied and competed on the Plateau des Confins since I was in the ‘under 16’ category and I particularly appreciate this place. I also have a lot of good memories here, especially the first French team victory in a World Cup relay in 2004. I am even more motivated this year for I am eager to try the new competition format (the 15 km classic and the 7.5 km relay).

- What do you think are the special features and assets of the Plateau des Confins?VV : The Plateau des Confins is really adapted to mass start competitions. For the spectators, the major part of the course is visible from a single viewpoint. For the competitor, the course is wide, which makes passing easier. Nonetheless it is a difficult course with long climbs that leave almost no time for recovery. This year, the start and finish zones have been modified to immerse

even more the spectators in the competition, and allow them to enjoy all the animations proposed during and around the event. The weekend will then be even more festive for everyone than in the past editions.

Jmg : The Plateau des Confins is the ideal site to organise a cross-country world cup: an amazing setting, a very difficult course, and an exceptional 80% view of the course without moving for spectators. The shuttles connecting the village to the competition site and the free access to the stadium are of course undeniable assets of this World Cup stage. The immense work produced by volunteers and ski slope services have also proven very efficient year after year in organising such events, and every edition is rewarded with very positive feedbacks from the foreign delegations athletes.

- to finish, what is you favourite memory of the World Cup in La Clusaz?VV : The French team relay victory in 2004 will always be one of my favourite memories! The harmony with the supporters and the staff was so magical that in the end we were all crying with joy…

Jmg : Many images come into mind when recalling the World Cup in La Clusaz. Of course the victorious 2004 relay and the following party with all the teammates are unforgettable moments. There is also another relay podium, Vincent Vittoz’s second place, and many individual deceptions as well. Because we are home, we try so hard to do our best that it remains even harder when it does not work. This World Cup stage is one of the most pleasant ones when it comes to ambiance thanks to the fan clubs, the kids, the ski clubs, and all the cross-country enthusiasts. I particularly remember the last climbing of the course where I could not even hear my coaches because of the supporting cries coming from all sides… I look forward to being on January 19 and 20!

1 9 / 2 0 J A N UA RY 2 0 1 3uSeful informaTion- press centre on the competition site (beside the start and finish zone)Opening hours : • Thursday, January 17: 10:00 to 17:00• Friday, January 18: 10:00 to 20:00• Saturday, January 19: 9:00 to 20:00• Sunday, January 20: 8:00 to 18:00

- press centre in the Salon d’Honneur (village centre) Opening hours : • Thursday, January 17: 9:00 to 19:00• Friday, January 18: 9:00 to 21:00• Saturday, January 19: 8:00 to 21:00• Sunday, January 20: 8:00 to 19:00

PreSS media aCCrediTaTionSAurélie FORGE , press agent for La Clusazpresse@laclusaz.com+33(0)4 50 32 65 02+33(0)6 71 87 01 86

organiSaTionStéphane VITTOZ , head of Club des Sports La Clusaz+33(0)4 50 32 69 50info@club-laclusaz.com

More information on http://fis-ccwc-laclusaz.fr

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