Mountain biking worlds: thrills guaranteed in Austria
The French Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, reigning cross-country world champion.
Photo: Patrick Pichon / FFC
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
5 mins
Initially planned in Germany last June and canceled due to coronavirus, the Mountain Bike World Championships finally take place in Austria, in Leogang from October 5 to 11.
And France is hoping for gold medals, notably with defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in cross-country.
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"
We are happy to be there and to say that this is taking place,
" Yvan Clolus says by telephone in a cheerful voice.
"
For our discipline, our athletes, our environment and our economic model, it is obviously a relief
", slips the manager of the French mountain bike team.
Even if the Covid-19 pandemic is still present, the event is taking place.
And the icing on the cake, the French are in good shape.
"
We are here for medals, and to help young people progress
", hopes the technician.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in search of the second title in a row
After the World Road Championships in Imola and the victory of Frenchman
Julian Alaphilippe
, it's the
green bike's
turn
to party.
If France is still very focused on road competitions, the French athletes have their place in the world mountain bike hierarchy, especially among girls.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, reigning world champion, took the second cross-country race of the World Cup from Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic) on Sunday 4 October and will be present in Leogang in Austria for a historic double two years in a row .
Also world champion on the road and in cyclo-croos, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will be accompanied by the young Loana Lecomte, winner of the first round a few days earlier, who could win the world title in less than 23 years.
Julie Bresset, Olympic champion in Rio in 2016, is also part of the trip.
Among the boys, still in cross-country, the main ones selected are Jordan Sarrou - 2020 French champion - Titouan Carod, Victor Koretzky, Stéphane Tempier or even Maxime Marotte, second on the roots and slippery stones of the Czech route of Nove Mesto na Moravian during the first round of the World Cup.
France has been waiting for its new world champion since the last of Julien Absalon's five titles, in 2014. The one who spearheaded French mountain biking for almost two decades has been crowned Olympic champion twice (2004 and 2008).
According to Yvan Clolus, in the men's category, the level of the French is "
very tight
".
“
Today, we have a generation of four to five French riders capable of going on the podiums,
” says Yvan Clolus.
Mountain biking remains a discipline above all individual, very physical, where there is rarely a bang.
The athlete must be very complete, and there is rarely a miracle.
Real tightrope walkers on the bike
Over the past ten years, mountain biking has been modernized to remain attractive.
“
This fun sport remains popular with young people.
Today, a mountain bike race lasts less.
We went to about 1h20 of racing, whereas we were previously at almost 2h30.
And the slightest mistake is paid for in cash.
Before, with a minute behind the leader, we could hope to come back.
Today that is no longer possible.
The course is completely different.
And with the new equipment, we can go through rather extreme obstacles
, ”explains Yvan Clolus.
Jumps, steps, stones, everything is there to make the discipline more televisual.
Suddenly, the riding skills with a lighter bike are more and more important.
You don't always realize it on camera, but parts of the circuit are worthy of a balancing act launched at full speed.
You have to have a good heart and know the course inside out to avoid ending up in the background.
"
We do not just fall into the grass, and athletes who are not technical will never be able to reach the top 20 in the world,
" warns Yvan Clolus.
To harden up and progress, some even devote themselves to alpine skiing and motocross in order to increase their technical background.
Without forgetting the mental work to accept the jumps and the speed.
Mountain biking, an Olympic discipline, has become both physical and technical.
And above all, very impressive to watch.
Enough to thrill spectators and viewers during these Worlds.
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