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Cycling lovers, the family also has bikers among them. Each generation sacrifices itself so that the next may live out its dreams, even if it means reworking when you are retired.
They are three. All seasoned athletes. Cyclists or bikers, the Cavagna live by and for sport. “By“, Because the Montluçonnaise branch of the family has provided good amateur athletes, and“for”Because it was always necessary to whip to be able to have the means of its passion. Albert, 91 years old and a former bicycle repairer on avenue Jean Nègre, was an amateur cyclist at a very good level (1time category). Gilles, his 65-year-old son, also performed in motocross in his youth when he was, at the same time, employed for Landis and Gyr. Today, it is Arthur, 17 years old, the son of Gilles, who is taking the lead in his discipline. The young man participates, in fact, in World Cup rounds in his discipline: trial mountain biking (see below).
“He almost progressed too fast and too soon“, Laughs Gilles Cavagna. Retired since 2015, the Montluçonnais has taken up a job. We must finance the trips of the son. “I first joined Amis as a temporary worker, he specifies. But doing 3/8 with age is hard. Then, I had the opportunity to join Safran in 2019 as an editor, I’m still there.”A sacrifice that the dad does not regret. Even if Arthur will never be a millionaire by practicing his passion, Gilles is already more than satisfied with the result. “As a parent, we already have the benefit of what we have done, continues the dad. The practice of his sport makes him much more mature.”Arthur has become a diligent, organized, studious high school student… which was not necessarily the case at the start. “At first it was a bit complicated, confesses Arthur Cavangna. It was when I started cycling in college that I got better.” “As soon as he has free time, he revises“, Congratulates his father.
The diplomas will be essential for the teenager in his life. Indeed, the mountain biker will not be able to live from his passion… and he is very aware of it. “In trial mountain biking, there are only 5 who are going to get there., Arthur says. Despite everything I’m going to do this thoroughly. Since I started, I want to be among the best and then it makes you travel.”The journeys being the most important item of expense, Arthur Cavagna will not participate in all the World Cup rounds. Nevertheless, thanks to the sacrifices of his father, he can compete in contact with professionals. “By juggling, we get byreassures Gilles. We select the most important races. The journeys represent around 10,000 euros of budget per year.”
“We pay to run”
Former amateur biker, Gilles Cavagna now notes that the competition is played as much outside the circuit as behind the scenes. “The more we go up in category, the more we discover a whole lot of things“, Calls out the dad. The former biker remembers his time. “In the 70s and 80s, you were paid to run on motorbikes. We even had arrival bonuses because we brought back spectators. Today, it’s the opposite, we pay to run.”Words that illustrate the growing importance of money in sport and supported by grandfather Cavagna, Albert, a former amateur cyclist. “When i see them (his son’s family), they sacrifice a lot more than I do. At the time, Gilles had his job so he paid for his motorcycles and I participated a little for the trips.”The nonagenarian, winner of around thirty amateur races, also assumed all the financial costs of his activity. And this, in addition to his work at the Thiers cutlery. “In 1952 – 1953, the last years, I got more money than at work“, Remembers Albert. Unthinkable situation today.
Arthur seems more interested in his passion than in money. 2 or 3 sponsors would however allow the family to be more financially peaceful. “I didn’t want the lack of money to break her dreams“Says Gilles Cavagna when asked why he went back to work. Arthur’s dream: to do as well as his cousin Rémi, French champion in the cycling time trial in 2020.
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