French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry have taken a surprising lead after the rhythm dance.
In a stunning upset at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic test event, French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry have claimed the top position following the rhythm dance competition. The duo managed to edge out heavily favored Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who currently sit in second place.
This unexpected result has shaken up the competition dynamics, with the French pair demonstrating exceptional technical precision and artistic expression in their rhythm dance routine. Cizeron, who previously won Olympic silver in ice dance with Gabriella Papadakis at Beijing 2022, has partnered with Canadian-born Fournier Beaudry to form a formidable new combination.
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The result represents a significant surprise given the established reputation of Chock and Bates, who have been dominant forces in international ice dance competition. The American duo, multiple world medalists and consistent podium finishers on the Grand Prix circuit, were widely expected to lead after the rhythm dance segment.
Fournier Beaudry, who previously competed for Canada, brings her own international experience to the partnership. The combination of Cizeron's proven championship pedigree and Fournier Beaudry's technical skills appears to be paying dividends in their debut season together.
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With the free dance scheduled for Wednesday, the competition remains wide open. The longer free dance program typically allows for greater separation between competitors and could see the standings shift once again. Both pairs will need to deliver clean, technically sound performances while maintaining the artistic quality that defines elite ice dance.
The Milano Cortina venue is serving as an important test event ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, giving athletes valuable experience competing at the future Olympic site. The ice dance competition has provided an early indication of the level of competition expected when the Games return to Italy.
