Bydgoszcz (Poland) (AFP)

The French team spent a quiet day managing the series of the European Athletics Team Championships, failing to surpass themselves in the two finals scheduled Friday in Bydgoszcz (Poland).

Ten series were scheduled for the opening day of the Euro team (100m, 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles men and women, 100 and 110m hurdles). The Blues have managed to qualify in the finals on nine disciplines (he had to finish in the first eight out of twelve).

Only the screamer Fanny Quenot failed because of a huge foul on the 2nd hurdle of her 100m hurdles series, finishing 9th out of 12 in 13 sec.

At ease, the 100m European record holder Jimmy Vicaut, freed from the weight of the minima for the Doha Worlds (27 September - 6 October), won his series in 10 sec 07 under the Polish sun.

"It's not bad for a series of 10.07 I feel good, I think my race is good technically (...) Tomorrow I will try to beat my + season best + (10.02)", has he reacts in a mixed zone.

Sprinter Carolle Zahi also won her 100m series with her best time this season (11 sec 20).

- Robert-Michon disappointed -

The Blues also held their rank without shining on the two finals on the program. Olympic vice-champion Mélina Robert-Michon, the oldest member of the team (40), finished second, bringing 11 points to the French team with a throw at 60.61m, away from her best throw of the season (62.41 m on July 16th in Sotteville-les-Rouen).

"I'm second, it makes me a little shit I'm a little disappointed because I make a good first throw and after I get lost a little bit, it shows the work we still have to do until Doha "said Robert-Michon, returning after giving birth to a second daughter in June 2018.

In the other final of the day, Lukas Mustard finished 10th (3 points) in the javelin (71.21m).

France is currently 5th with 14 points, away from Germany (24 points), favorite of the competition with Poland (2nd, 19 points). Positions that remain anecdotal after only two out of forty.

Aligned to reassure himself on a 100m out of competition, sprinter Christophe Lemaitre struggled in 10.31, two weeks after catastrophic French Championships in Saint-Etienne (5th in the 200m in 20.90).

Lemaitre (29), scheduled for the 4x100m relay Saturday, is still looking for his best level and can not claim for the moment to a selection for the Worlds.

© 2019 AFP