Mountain Bike Worlds: in Les Gets, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is aiming for a fourth rainbow jersey in cross-country
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From her first title of world champion, on the road, in 2014, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot keeps “oddly the memory of a certain carelessness”. “At the same time as if I didn’t really realize what I had done and, at the same time, as if anything was possible”develops the cyclist, now in her thirties.
Since then, the native of Reims has added five coronations to his individual record in two other disciplines, cyclo-cross and mountain biking, the last of which was gleaned on Friday August 26 on the short track – short track – during the Worlds in Les Gets (Haute-Savoie). “Even the doping control of this [samedi] morning won’t take the smile off my face”insisted the champion on his Instagram account the day after his victory… Before making an appointment for the rest.
Because his rainbow appetite – from the name given to the distinctive jersey given to the winner of the Worlds – remains intact. Sunday August 28, the one nicknamed “PFP” will try to glean a fourth iridescent tunic in Olympic cross-country (XCO), the queen event of mountain biking, a week after his 2e room for “Europe”in Munich (Germany).
“There is no monotony for an athleteshe explains to World. To be able to live it fully, each race is taken day by day. So, with all the more reason, each title too, and none has ever been 100% insured before departure. It always includes an irreducible part of uncertainty which combines very badly with weariness. »
Especially since this 2022 edition, which is played at home, necessarily has a somewhat special flavor. “We feel a very strong enthusiasm, so it will be a great meeting. As an athlete, there is also a kind of paradox in running Worlds in your country. Not necessarily because it would bring extra pressure, but because you know you have to put yourself in your bubble if you want to give your best.she summarizes.
A revamped route
Since the official introduction of the competition on the calendar of the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 1990, France has already hosted the Worlds twice: in 1993 in Métabief, in the Doubs, then in 2004, already in Les Gets. “The world championships are the holy grailinsists David Moreau, the XCO race director. Apart from the Olympic Games, it is really the major event of the discipline. »
The cross-country event takes place on a circuit whose number of laps is determined by an overall race time – around an hour and a half for women, an hour and a half for men – depending on the conditions the day before the competition. . “We know that if it’s a little muddy, for example, it will take two more minutes for each lap”illustrates David Moreau. “The question often comes up: ‘But why didn’t you take the same route as in 2004?’ », he laughs. In recent years, the length of the circuits has been shortened to facilitate broadcasting and make the event more telegenic – that of Les Gets is pointed at 3.39 kilometers, in the low range, when the latter generally oscillate between 3 and 5 kilometers. Above all, the evolutions of the equipment and the piloting had made the course obsolete. To understand : “Too easy for the modern bike!” »
In 2019, the small Haute-Savoie resort organized a round of the cross-country mountain biking World Cup and the feedback from the teams was clear: if the physical part – the sequences of climbs and descents – was within the standards, the route lacked technical facilities. The organizers have therefore worked to create areas of rocks, trunks, but also line modifications conducive to duels.
“As much as there is a big difference on the course between 2019 and 2021 [date à laquelle une autre manche de Coupe du monde a été organisée aux Gets]as much as the evolution between last year and the world championships is minimalunderlines the race director. It’s only choices of trajectory, picketing, which change a little to have different angles of approach and sequences of modules. To add a little bit of difficulty too, since we are at the Worlds. »
Loana Lecomte, big favorite
Freshly crowned with her title of European champion in Munich, Loana Lecomte is the big favorite for the rainbow jersey. Especially since the 23-year-old prodigy has already won on the Les Gets route in 2021. “Compared to the other drivers, she benefits from a capital of confidence on a circuit that has already been won”believes David Moreau.
“Objectively, she has been the strongest for two seasons. By her number of victories, her status as overall winner of the 2021 World Cup, she has established herself as the world number 1 in cross-country in France.abounds Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who is full of praise for her youngest. In addition, she is from Haute-Savoie, so she will really be at home. » Yet “PFP”, who knows by his own admission a season “complicated” for personal reasons, seemed a little above in Bavaria, where she raced in the lead before experiencing a mechanical problem.
And if crowned on Sunday, she would equal the record of the Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle, with four world crowns in XCO. “I have this information in the back of my head, at best it’s a possibility, but it’s not a motivation in itself”, concedes the interested party. Ten years after joining her first professional team, the Champenoise still runs at will.
“ The hunt for records, I see it a bit like a grumpy old thing, who needs it to tell their grandchildren “when I was younger, I did that”, so as not to be forgotten by history. I don’t have that kind of aspiration. What motivates me are great races, unique moments in life to give everything to surpass yourself… It makes me vibrate much more than the tables of data, the Guinness Books or career plans! » Still, on Sunday, she could mark the history of her sport a little more.
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