Tokyo (AFP)

After the disillusionment of the individual triathlon, Vincent Luis will try to console himself on Saturday in Tokyo in a mixed relay with the France team, three-time reigning world champion in the specialty and therefore a serious contender for the Olympic gold medal.

Before disembarking in Tokyo, Luis had assured that in the event of a personal mishap, a collective podium will not "save (it)" his Games.

The native of Vesoul will however have to resolve it: after his bitter failure on Monday (13th), the mixed relay, which is making its big debut on the Olympic program, is now his only opportunity not to leave Japan empty-handed.

For the French triathlon, which has still not known the joys of a medal since the discipline was introduced at the Games in 2000 in Sydney, this is also an opportunity not to be missed.

Because the results are for the moment very mixed despite the surprise fifth place of Léonie Périault, the best result of a Frenchwoman at the Olympics.

Solo defaulters, the Blues hope to be able to count on their good density to fill this void.

For this format unprecedented at the Games, which consists for each of the torchbearers in a short distance triathlon (300 m swimming, 6.8 km cycling, 2 km running), the French management trusted the Cassandre quartet. Beaugrand-Dorian Coninx-Vincent Luis-Léonie Périault.

"We have ambitions, we have men and women among the best in the world in relay. Léonie (Périault, editor's note) showed it and sent a signal to the other international triathletes. It will be a very dense race", estimates Benjamin Maze, the National Technical Director.

However, the technician wants to be "humble" despite the raid of his troops in mixed relay in recent years (4 world titles in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 3 European titles in 2015, 2018, 2019).

"It's an exciting event to watch but it can also be punitive quickly, explains Benjamin Maze. From the first stint, you can quickly find yourself in difficulty and far from the ability to make a podium. It's very tight, he there are at least five nations that can play for a medal.There are Australia, England (editor's note: Great Britain), the United States and France but also New Zealand which is regularly on the runners-up world. There are a lot of contenders. "

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Unlike the ladies' race, which took place on Tuesday largely under heavy rains, the heat will not be overlooked (32 ° C expected, water at 29 ° C in Odaiba bay and a rate humidity close to 70%).

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