Tokyo Olympics: Paul Daumont, the Burkinabè cyclist ready for the Japanese roads
The young cyclist Paul Daumont is one of the hopes of West and Central Africa.
He will participate in the Tokyo Olympics.
© Olivier Pron / RFI
Text by: Olivier Pron
5 mins
Paul Daumont is a young Burkinabè cyclist who will participate in the Tokyo Olympics.
He is currently cycling's greatest hope in West and Central Africa.
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From day one of the Olympic Games, he will be on the track, or rather on the road.
A few tens of kilometers southwest of Tokyo, Paul Daumont, 21, barely 4 of whom is on a racing bike, will set off for the toughest and most important road race of his life.
He thinks about it every day: “
We start to feel the pressure and in fact the immensity of the event.
It is a huge privilege.
It is only now that I realize the importance of my selection because in 2016 for example, I had not yet started cycling during the last Olympic Games.
And to tell myself that in 2021, I will be at the start of this race alongside the greatest champions of the decade with my national jersey on my shoulders, it's really an honor.
"
Tour of Benin won and best sprinter of the Tour of Cameroon
An honor before, and he also hopes for fun by participating in this race.
This year while preparing in Ouagadougou for his degree in management and marketing, he trained as best he could with determination, courage and will.
And it paid off as he won the Tour du Bénin in May and then two stages on the Tour du Cameroun at the beginning of June.
He is the best sprinter's green jersey as a bonus.
These results are good for confidence before going up against the bigger and more impressive ones.
“
It shouldn't be too much of a shock.
Because for an amateur runner like me, who runs in Africa mainly, to end up with the best runners in the world, I shouldn't be too impressed because it can affect my performance
, he explains.
I can be intimidated so I try to prepare myself as well as possible psychologically.
I hope this can help me stay natural and approach the competition as calmly as possible.
"
Mountain air 😁👇🏽
Posted by Paul Daumont on Saturday July 3, 2021
Humble, respectful and composed, Paul Daumont is a tall, slender boy with a frank smile and chosen words.
He is a complete runner and is considered the greatest prospect in West and Central Africa.
Laurent Bezault, Africa adviser for the International Cycling Union (UCI) confirms: “
So that's for sure.
He is someone who must be continued to follow.
Me, I hope that when he finishes this year, and we have already discussed this, that from 2022, therefore, he can join a good national division club in France or do a year at the world cycling center in Aigle in Switzerland.
Or maybe find him a continental team.
I think there is a great opportunity for this region of Africa with Paul.
So it is certain that for him, the Olympic Games will be a superb experience and a new step that he will take in his progress.
"
So many paths traveled since his birth in Bangui of a French father and a Central African mother.
Towards an escape on Japanese roads
Paul traveled the continent in the suitcases of a logistician dad: Cameroon, Congo, Chad, Togo, Ivory Coast and finally Burkina and Bobo Dioulasso ... Today, he travels alone.
His father Xavier is proud.
“
It is a great pride to say that we have achieved the education we wanted to give him.
I am retired and I stayed in Africa for him, says his father
Xavier Daumont.
To be able to support him in his progress here in Burkina.
Of course, one day he will leave.
This is normal.
It is even my wish that he can join a team in France or in Europe.
"
Leaving to progress and continue to dream ... For this, Paul, for the time being, sees himself making a breakaway on the Japanese roads.
“
Of course, a breakaway from the Olympics would be really great!
To be able to be on TV, to be in a breakaway ... or still be present in the finale, even if you don't win a medal.
It would already be huge and it would be a huge springboard.
"
And after the race, Paul knows his program.
If authorized, he will go to athletics to support his compatriot Fabrice Zango, king of the triple jump.
► See also: Tokyo Olympics: Rose Nathike Lokonyen, the Olympic path for refugees
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