Figure skating-French ice dancers lead European championships in Sheffield

SHEFFIELD, England, Jan 13 : French ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron arrive at the European Figure Skating Championships as the team to beat, their elegant precision and soaring scores marking them among Olympic gold medal favourites. 

The French duo, who despite only teaming up in March had a dazzling debut on the Grand Prix circuit, face a spirited challenge from Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson on home ice in Sheffield.

With the Games just weeks away, this clash of styles — French elegance versus British flair — promises to be an exciting showdown at the final major international event for Milano-bound athletes before the Olympics.

Medals will be awarded at Utilita Arena across men's and women's singles, pairs and ice dance.

With Olympic medal favourite Adam Siao Him Fa of France withdrawing with an ankle injury, defending champion Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland and Daniel Grassl of Italy headline the men's field, while Estonian Niina Petrokina and Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia are among the women to watch.

World silver and bronze medallists Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany are the favourites in pairs, with Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii having withdrawn from the event.

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron have surged to the fore following their Grand Prix debut, winning both the Grand Prix of France and the Finlandia Trophy before finishing runners-up to Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates at last month's Final.

Their partnership is a comeback for both skaters. Cizeron is the reigning Olympic champion and five-time world champion with previous partner Gabriella Papadakis, who retired after the Beijing Games.

Montreal native Fournier Beaudry competed for Canada with