---
title: "France Names First Biathlon World Cup Team Members as Jacquelin Skips Season"
description: "The French biathlon team named its first World Cup participants, securing spots for Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet while Emilien Jacquelin skips the season for cycling."
date: 2026-09-30T19:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/france-names-first-biathlon-world-cup-team-members-as-jacquelin-skips-season
tags: [biathlon, world-cup, france, eric-perrot, quentin-fillon-maillet, emilien-jacquelin]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# France Names First Biathlon World Cup Team Members as Jacquelin Skips Season

![French biathletes at the World Cup stage](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/30/frantsiya-sformirovala-sostav-kubka-mira-po-biatlonu-zhaklen-propustit-sezon/frantsiya-sformirovala-sostav-kubka-mira-po-biatlonu-zhaklen-propustit-sezon-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet guaranteed their spots on the French World Cup team.
- Emilien Jacquelin will skip the season to pursue a career in road cycling.
- The French team secured seven quotas for the new World Cup season.

The French biathlon team has officially determined the first athletes guaranteed a spot in the main squad for the upcoming international season. According to selection criteria, athletes who reached the podium in individual World Cup races during the previous competitive year automatically secured their places.

### Team Leaders and Last Season's Triumphs

Thanks to consistent and successful performances, Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet earned automatic qualification. As explained by French national teams director Stéphane Bouthiaux, individual medalists hold unconditional priority. Consequently, Perrot and Fillon Maillet will start the competitive year in the main squad at the season opener in Kontiolahti, Finland.

For Eric Perrot, the previous season was historic: the Frenchman showed phenomenal form, winning the Overall World Cup Crystal Globe for the first time in his career and securing four individual victories at the highest level. Meanwhile, Quentin Fillon Maillet also confirmed his top-tier status, stepping onto the World Cup podium twice and claiming a triumphant gold medal in the sprint along with bronze in the mass start at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

### Emilien Jacquelin's Surprising Decision

The third French biathlete who met the automatic selection criteria through last season's podiums was Emilien Jacquelin. However, one of the team's long-standing leaders made a sensational decision to completely skip the upcoming biathlon season. Jacquelin intends to temporarily shift his athletic focus and develop his career in road cycling.

### Team Quotas and Upcoming Internal Selection

Despite Jacquelin's absence, the French men's team retains a powerful roster, holding seven quotas for the World Cup start. The team secured an extra spot thanks to Gaétan Paturel's victory in the IBU Cup overall standings. The remaining squad spots will be decided through fierce internal competition, culminating in a pre-season qualifying race in Eildu, Norway, on November 14–15.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Франция уже знает первых участников Кубка мира по биатлону: один из лидеров пропустит сезон](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/frantsiya-vzhe-znae-pershih-uchasnikiv-kubka-1790795465.html) - Основной источник информации о составе сборной Франции и решении Жаклена.
- [Франция почти за два месяца до старта назвала большую часть состава на Кубок мира](https://sport5.by/news/biathlon/Frantsiya-pochti-za-dva-mesyatsa-do-starta-nazvala-bolshuyu-chast-sostava-na-Kubok-mira/) - Подтверждено по источнику sport5.by
- [Биатлон. Кубок мира 2025/26: расписание, участники, трансляция](https://www.olympics.com/ru/news/biatlon-kubok-mira-2025-26-raspisanie-uchastniki-translyaciya) - Подтверждено по источнику olympics.com
- [Перро и Фийон-Майе гарантировали места в составе сборной Франции на старте нового сезона Кубка ...](https://ua.tribuna.com/biathlon/1000000380494-perro-ta-fiyonmaye-harantuvaly-mistsya-u-skladi-zbirnoyi/) - Подтверждение квот и автоматического отбора лидеров.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which French biathletes secured automatic selection?
**A:** Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet secured their main roster spots due to podium finishes last season.

### Q: Why is Emilien Jacquelin skipping the season?
**A:** Jacquelin decided to focus fully on developing his career in road cycling.