When we met them at the CMA headquarters, the Aubervilliers municipal club which is the basis of the professional structure of Auber, the mechanics were in charge of the truck, check the last details on the bikes. “A race is already preparing for the workshop, explains Mehdi Lefevre by hanging the wheels. Even more a 9 -day race, the longest in the world cycling calendar! »»
Mehdi Lefèvre, mechanic, is one of the 13 people of the Auber staff on the Tour: 3 sports directors, 3 mechanics, 4 mass assistants and driver of the bus, 1 osteopath, 2 communication managers.
For Auber, the Tour is the big meeting of the year. “Participate in the Tour de France, tells Stéphan Gaudry, sports director, C‘is for all runners an additional motivation and also a particular interest for our partners with more visibility! We have never missed an edition since the return of the female tour. And this year, we have climbed from a step from the status of a continental team to Pro Team, the second, just after the major World Tour teams. »» This new status has enabled the “Madeleines”, as they are nicknamed because of their main sponsor, to be invited to the big classics like Liège-Bastogne-Liège, La Flèche Wallonne, Paris-Roubaix … “We were even invited to the Vuelta, Stéphan Gaudry prides himself, But we do not have a sufficiently substantial workforce to engage in two big laps in the same year. »» So for a team such as Auber, what would be a successful round? The sports director answers: “We have no ambition in the general classification, compared to large teams, we are not sufficiently armed. But it’s up to us to seize the right opportunities, score points in a jersey race, feel the right break … “
Stéphane Gaudry, sports director faithful to Auber since … Almost or almost!
A route for Plchants and Climbers
This year’s journey will start in Brittany and have nine days of racing: two steps of flat for sprinters, four damaged steps expected by the Plchants capable of placing a large acceleration to get out of the peloton during the end of stages, or in the “bumps, and three mountain stages including the last two, for climbers. With a special mention for the penultimate stage on August 2, with an arrival at the top of the Col de la Madeleine, a monument classified out of category. A madeleine in mind at the Madeleine pass… it would be too good!
Madeleines in the right package
To cope, Stéphan Gaudry, helped by Stéphane Javalet the historic sports director and by Tony Hurel, deputy sports director, has concocted a balanced team. Effective review!
Alyssia Gonzalez, 30 years, Spain. “It is a punchy, capable of good places in a reduced sprint. She drove several years in World Tour and has a good vision of the race. It will be our road captain, who will give instructions and advice to other less experienced runners.
Lucie Fityus, 22 years old, Australia “It’s our sprinter, she has just done 10e From the picto, she is able to enter a top 5. Her teammates will have to help her place herself well before the last kilometer. And she is able to enjoy a good blow. ”
Ségolène Thomas26 years old, France. “For me, Ségolène is one of the 20 best climbers in the world. This year she finished 4th in the International Women’s Tour of the Pyrenees. We are counting on it in the general classification and on the mountain stages. But … but for that it must happen well at the foot of the bump, and as it comes from athletics, it has placement gaps, must get into the peloton races. It has a big engine, it still lacks a little driving. But she works there! And to top it all, she is an engineer! »»
Alisson oatine, 25 years, France “Alisson has been with us since 2022, it is a solid, essential teammate. It is certainly limited in bumps but works for others. She is able to slip into a breakaway and above all her role is to prepare the sprints for Lucie Fityus. »»
Emily Watts24, Australia. “Emily is also a teammate with the same role as Alisson, except that she is more comfortable in the bumps. It is not impossible either that it is seen in a breakaway, last year it made 77km in mind during the Brabançonne arrow… ”
Elyne Roussel19, France. “It’s the youngest but she will play her 2e Tour de France. She goes quickly, she made the track, she can be the last element of the final sprint. Among the juniors she made 5e of the European Championship and 4e at the time of nations. A good engine! »»
Emilie Morier28 years old, France. “The most atypical, the kind of story typical of Auber! Emilie is initially a high -level triathlete (world champion in 2019 mixed relay, U23 world champion…). As she is also supported by St Michel, she participated with us in a pre-season internship. And he liked it to the point of wanting to get started on the road! We then advised him to register for a club to compete in amateur races and have an accelerated training in peloton races. And it worked since she won the classic Vienna Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and is vice-champion of amateur France! So she made the preparation in Font Romeu, everything went well and she is the adventure of the Tour. She has a big desire, enthusiasm, she is not impressed by the stake because she knows the very high level well. She can make shine… ”
So, whether by the roads or in front of your screen, support the Madeleines of Saint-Michel Auber 93 Preference Home!
Photos : Nicolas Moulard et Aymeric Lassak
