This is the great return of cyclist Sébastien Vigier to the top step of a European podium.

Five years after his first continental title, the French cyclist once again took his place on the European throne of speed, the queen discipline of sprinting, on Sunday in Munich where another Blue, Rayan Helal took bronze.

"It's a resurrection because I had five years without an international title, it was still quite difficult", breathed the French sprinter after regaining his strength.

The 25-year-old Essonnien was emptied after the third round, played only ten minutes after that of the equalizer against the Briton Jack Carlin, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics a year ago.

Recovery, Vigier's strong point

"I did a lot of cardio, it helps a lot to recover between rounds," delivered Vigier, who was on the third step of the podium at the Worlds last year.

“That's what made me win.

I think intrinsically I was less strong than Jack (Carlin) but I recovered better than him between races.

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In the absence of the king of the discipline, the Dutch Harrie Lavreysen, Olympic champion in Tokyo, and his compatriot Jeffrey Hoogland, silver medalist in Japan, Jack Carlin was the man to beat in Bavaria.

Even if, in the final, the protege of Jason Kenny still bore the scars of his fall at full speed in the previous round against the Frenchman Rayan Helal, present for the first time on the podium of a major championship.

The Worlds in sight

“There is the domination of the Dutch who put us each time on the lowest steps of the podium or outside, recognized the new European champion, who succeeds Lavreysen.

It feels a lot of good, we are getting closer to them.

They weren't here today but I don't think they would have been above the rest”.

The ephemeral velodrome track, shorter than usual (200 meters against 250 meters), presented an increased risk of falling, estimated Lavreysen, wishing to preserve himself two months from the Worlds (October 12-16) in Saint-Quentin -en-Yvelines.

The French sprinters, now trained by the four-time world champion in the discipline, Grégory Baugé, took the opportunity to build up their confidence before this big home deadline.

This same Saint-Quentin velodrome will host the Olympic events in less than two years.

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