After Decathlon trial, Olympic biathlon champion skips upcoming season and officially prioritises cycling to pursue professional future
Cycling
Emilien Jacquelin will skip the entire 2026/27 biathlon season after officially deciding to continue his pursuit of a professional cycling career.
The 31-year-old confirmed the decision on Tuesday following a summer spent racing with Decathlon CMA CGM, ending the uncertainty over whether he would return to the French biathlon setup for the coming winter.
“I’ve made the decision to continue cycling over the coming months and, as a result, not to do next winter with the biathlon team,” Jacquelin said in a video released by the French Ski Federation.
Jacquelin won pursuit bronze and men's relay gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year before turning his attention towards cycling.
Decathlon trial opens door to professional future
After joining Decathlon’s NewGen project, Jacquelin made his professional debut at La Polynormande in August and finished 88th after spending much of the race working at the front of the peloton. Paul Lapeira later revealed that Jacquelin had done more work than the team had asked of him and at one point had even been told to stop riding.
The Frenchman then finished 52nd overall at the Tour du Limousin before taking 14th as France’s sole representative in the Mediterranean Games road race. His programme continued into September with the Tour of Britain, GP de Fourmies and GP de Wallonie.
Jacquelin has since enlisted cycling agent Joona Laukka as he searches for a professional contract for 2027. “I really want to push things as far as possible in cycling, to see how far I can go and how long I can continue in this world,” he explained.
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2030 Olympic target remains
Jacquelin insists the decision does not bring his biathlon career to an end. “The story with biathlon isn’t over. The objective remains the 2030 Olympic Games in the French Alps,” said the two-time pursuit world champion. “Today, the path I’m taking is different, special, but I feel that it is in line with what I want to do.”
Jacquelin finished fifth in the overall World Cup standings last season before adding another individual Olympic medal and relay gold to a career which already includes five world titles.
He will remain in contact with the French biathlon team during his season away. “I’m still following what my teammates are doing in training camps or international competition,” he said.
Jacquelin also plans to attend the World Cup round at Le Grand-Bornand from December 10-13, although this time as a spectator supporting his former teammates rather than competing.
His competitive focus now turns entirely towards cycling and the search for a 2027 contract, with his first full winter away from biathlon giving him the chance to prepare exclusively for a second season in the peloton.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- You're right about Kieran Wood, but he keeps reminding us he's the big Deputy Editor-in-Chief !?!? He says his focus is on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. Kieran also says he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available. So... he's gotta be right in saying Pogi is a four time TDF winner!?!? ... or maybe not!?!? LOL !!!PogiSloFans03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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