For these second Worlds in a row at home, after those of 2021 planned in Turkmenistan but folded in Roubaix because of the health context, France sees things big.

If the triple Olympic champion Florian Rousseau, who has become director of the Olympic program, refuses to display a quantified objective, he also says that "the athletes selected have all climbed on international podiums" and that they "therefore have the capacity to go play for the first places" in the 22 events on the program until Sunday.

France is a traditional power in track cycling, a big supplier of medals at the Olympic Games with its twelve Olympic disciplines, and remains the most successful nation in history at the Worlds.

But in recent years, it has been overtaken by the British and other nations such as the Netherlands, new kings of the sprint.

At the Tokyo Olympics last year, she only won two bronze medals, and at the World Championships she is now sailing around fifth place in the medal table.

"The fear has disappeared in the eyes of our opponents", sums up Grégory Baugé, quadruple world champion in individual speed and new national sprint coach.

"Humble everyone"

An observation which led the French Cycling Federation to turn everything upside down last fall with the return of the legend, Florian Rousseau, symbol of the golden years of the French track, joined in March by Grégory Baugé.

The first results are encouraging with a harvest of fifteen medals at the European Championships in August in Munich.

"We had a good summer," says Baugé, who felt "by looks, attitudes" that France was once again more respected.

The national coach does not hide it.

To get there, his athletes have no choice but to work hard, very hard.

Florian Rousseau, director of the Olympic program of the French Cycling Federation, in Montigny-le-Bretonneux on October 4, 2022 Thomas SAMSON AFP / Archives

"I saw a lot of suffering. But it's already a question of making everyone humble: we haven't been at the level for years. So we have to come back down and really work".

Upon arriving, Rousseau also prompted a reorganization with coaches now "focused only on the preparation of the France A teams".

He strengthened the performance cell and emphasized "the mental dimension to performance", with the use of psychologists to learn how to manage pressure.

"That's also preparing for the Games," insists Rousseau.

"Living by bike and living Paris-2024"

Quentin Lafargue, world champion in the kilometer in 2019 and dean of the group at 31, saw the difference: "I discovered a lot of rigor, seriousness, reflection around race strategies, the equipment used. I been quite surprised and it continues".

Working - a lot - but also "neglecting nothing" are the two creeds of the new staff.

"The rigor really encompasses a lot of things: mental preparation, training, going to bed at the same times, food ... it's really living cycling and living Paris-2024", insists Corentin Ermenault, multiple champion of Pursuit Europe.

What also regain confidence after years of complexes in the face of competition.

"Greg (Baugé) makes us realize that we have the talent to win", underlines Sébastien Vigier, double gold medal in individual speed and keirin in Munich.

Mathilde Gros of the French sprint team in Montigny-le-Bretonneux on October 4, 2022 Thomas SAMSON AFP / Archives

To transform the test, the Worlds are an important step on the road to the Olympics, which remain the supreme objective.

"These World Championships are really going to be a dress rehearsal for the Paris Games. I still have a lot to work on to achieve my dream: to be Olympic champion in 2024", underlines Mathilde Gros, the nugget of French sprinting.

© 2022 AFP