Cyclo-cross: Clément Venturini wins his fifth French championship title

Europe 1 with AFP 7:31 p.m., January 15, 2023

Clément Venturini wins the title of champion of France for the fifth time after a magnificent duel neck and neck with Fabien Doubey, Sunday January 15 in Bagnoles de l'Orne.

Defending champion, Joshua Dubau is content with 3rd place.

Already winner in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the 29-year-old Villeurbanais placed a sharp attack in one of the very last sections of the circuit, after having battled for a long time with Fabien Doubey in a duo formed from the third round.

Doubey, third in 2020 and 2022, was able to contain a first big offensive from Venturini on the 6th lap, but could not follow the final acceleration of his opponent.

>> READ ALSO

- Cycling: Thibaut Pinot will retire at the end of the season

Hélène Clauzel victorious in the women's category

"I saw that physically, I had a little leeway on him. He identified well where I was having trouble, he took advantage of it, it's all to his credit", declared after the race the champion of France at the microphone of Eurosport.

"I am inspired a lot by the best in the world, it is played like that too."

With five titles, Clément Venturini joins Robert Oubron and Dominique Arnold on the fifth step of the ranking of the most successful riders in the French championships, but is still far from Francis Mourey's nine victories.

Joshua Dubau, titled last year in Liévin (Pas-de-Calais), therefore took third place, signing a fourth consecutive podium at the French championships Earlier in the afternoon, Hélène Clauzel had beaten in the sprint defending champion Line Burquier in the women's event, after battling throughout the race to maintain a built-up lead in the first of five laps.

Second last year, the Alsatian, 24, thus won her very first title of champion of France.

His sister Perrine, third, obtained the third podium of her career.