Professional French Championships in Herbaria
You get your second podium in these French championships, after your second place on the time. What feeling dominates?
When I see my legs, there was still better to do … In a French championship, there is only the winning win. The second and third, we don’t remember it. The final was difficult to manage. I jumped a little on all the shots because some teams were in excess, notably Groupama-FDJ. It was not easy to juggle all this.
Despite everything, what flavor has this new medal?
She first comes to salute the investment of the past few weeks. The whole state of mind we could have. At least it allows me to thank the work of the team. Today, my teammates have sacrificed their race for me. At the beginning, we took the race upside down and they drove to allow me not to put a pedal stroke. Léandre Lozouet put big relays, Victor Guernalec was very strong, experienced runners like Arnaud Démare or Anthony Delaplace channeled me. I could quote them all. I take my hat off to them.
With hindsight, was waiting for the sprint the right solution?
In the last lap, I still tried my luck to get Paul (Lapeira). It was the right time but it didn’t work. Afterwards, it was less in my favor and I bet on the sprint.
Was the race quite difficult?
It is one of my regrets. On arrival, despite the heat, I always felt quite fresh. This is a sign that the form is there, but it also pushes me to ask me what could have happened if I had given everything until you stop dead …
You were still isolated in front of surplus teams like Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon.
There, I must admit that I no longer want to see a blue jersey (laughs). The FDJ never let go of the wheel. They played the whole race with our mind. In a French championship, you have to know how to play. It’s a game of poker more than a bicycle race. Nothing is predictable. I’m glad we head it at the end.
In the final sprint, did you believe in victory?
I trusted my legs. When I saw the sign “200 m from the finish”, I told myself that there was something to play. But in the end, I may not have sufficiently raw in me and I stalled a little … From there to win, I don’t know. Dorian is one of the best in the world on such an effort. I’m glad he wins, it’s a beautiful person. But I could have come closer to him.
