She has a smile to crack, an infectious joy. Elyne Roussel, 17, Plouaretaine and proud of it, finds it difficult to realize that she is living a real fairy tale. High school student at Le Dantec where she obtained her baccalaureate, she will join the University of Rennes in STAPS (Sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities). The young cyclist is already thinking about tomorrow, the day when she will stop cycling to devote herself to management in sport.
His fairy tale hides an amazing journey. “I have always loved sport, I have swum at the regional level. Dad and especially my brother, Nathan, who tried football before cycling, transmitted the virus to me. We are in 2002. For her first mountain bike race, unlicensed and without training, she finished in second place.
Surrender of a crusader break
Licensed to Bgard, she won two races before suffering a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee on May 19, 2019. Operation, rehabilitation and on September 8, she got back on her bike. “I gave up mountain biking for the road. I was French champion in cadets 1 with the Brittany team in 2021, chained victories, departmental, regional titles, finished 3rd French. But I also discovered the track and was titled French champion of the Omnium in Bourges”.
According to Régis, the dad, “Elyne has a foolproof mind. She turned our life upside down, which became an entire organization. With Christelle, my wife, we follow her as soon as we can. She gave up going out with girlfriends. She has her trainer from the Breizh Ladies team that she joined, Yann Le Normand, a mental trainer and a sports coach at the Plouaret weight room”. Elyne dedicates her two titles of champion of France on track, won ten days ago in Roubaix, to the one who accompanied and advised her so much, Michel Jézéquel, who died at the beginning of July.
Two years to turn pro
Now licensed to Plestin, her hopes are turned to the world championships in Glasgow on August 5. Today, she is going to Bilbao to compete in a Nations Cup round with the Breizh Ladies team. “I gave myself two years to be spotted by a professional team, at least in continental A. I will be hopeful next year, it will be the time to show what I can do”.
With her unfailing mind, “she’ll get there, I’m sure of it. Each year, she climbs a level. Papa Régis, who is living a wonderful adventure, is preparing to leave for Glasgow with his family: “Thanks to Elyne, we see the country. But we will still allow ourselves a week with the family on the Ile de Ré in August”.
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