The French chrono champion still shines in the velodromes. After three rainbows and six European titles, he is one of the French leaders this week in Roubaix, host city of the world championships. On the Lavaur runner’s program: team pursuit, points and American races.
Benjamin Thomas, second behind Ganna in the stopwatch at Bessèges in February, still on the track in autumn, your season is endless …
I have the impression of having made several in the same one! The sensations are good … Often at this time we already think of the holidays, there I am having a good time I arrive at these championships in perfect condition.
Roubaix suddenly is better than Turkmenistan initially planned …
It’s still easier logistically than going to the other side of the world, especially since we didn’t really know the conditions in which we would have been there. And then it is at home there will be the public, the family, we have already reserved all the places!
Do you like this Roubaix track?
We tried it again yesterday morning it was sanded last week, refurbished. It is a rather particular track compared to St-Quentin which is very wide with big bends. Here they are small with long straight lines, The turn is the part that gives you a boost, there, it is a little less true, you have to pedal, pedal, pedal, suddenly it makes races a little harder physically but I like. In addition the velodrome is beautiful, very bright, it changes some bunkers. When you are in Berlin in the middle of the afternoon you have the impression that it is eight in the evening.
And the other velodrome next door, that of Paris-Roubaix, do you dream of taking it one day?
Houla! This is a glue! I have no experience with cobblestones at all. We are at the hotel in Hem very close to the last sector, Monday after training on a small recovery of an hour we did a hundred meters, we also passed Gruson on the asphalt side. We took pictures! You feel that there is something, that it is a mythical place. Maybe one day I will, for now I love to see it on TV!
At 26, you move from Groupama to Cofidis, a real turning point …
Yes, I would like to perform at the start of the season, flourish on the road and see what I can do by putting the track aside a bit.
How does Cédric Vasseur see your two activities?
We quickly came to an agreement. The track is part of my daily life, I need it. Last year I had done less and I missed something. I had perhaps won a little in the mountains, I climbed the passes better but that’s not what makes me win races and at the level of the time trial or on my puncher qualities, the short efforts i ‘had lost a lot. It is for me a means of development and physical fulfillment …
And the Paris Olympics are coming …
Yes, we still have a little time, but it will obviously be a goal, in Tokyo with this bronze medal, I broke the ice.
You skip the omnium …
Yes for a change, I do the team pursuit, the points race and the American.
On your European title in points at Granges you seemed untouchable …
I run in my own way I am not too frugal in the effort. The goal was to get as many points as possible from the start for after mastering. Not having to hunt… I’m curious to see what I can do at these Worlds with more runners as strong as me.
Your fiancée Martina Alzini, who will also wear the Cofidis jersey in 2021, is also aiming high …
Yes in pursuit if she made a team podium and the small individual final, it would be the best of the best.
Can you talk about something other than cycling?
Yes, she is very talkative, we talk about everything and nothing!
Toulousaine Valentine Fortin in contention on Thursday for the Elimination event
The “Stab” of Roubaix (in homage to Jean Stablinski) welcomes from today the twenty-two events of the World Championships. Two additional titles, those of elimination (men and women), were added compared to the last edition of the Worlds, in February-March 2020 in Berlin where Benjamin Thomas had won the gold of the omnium. Twelve events (individual and team sprint, keirin, team pursuit, omnium and American) are on the program of the Olympic Games. European champion at Granges, like Benjamin Thomas, and also recruited by Team Cofidis, the Toulousian Valentine Fortin will be on track tomorrow for elimination. A serious chance for the tricolor camp. The former Blagnacaise is in good shape, she has just finished second over Morbihan, beaten by the Italian Sofia Bertizzolo. It all started today with the men’s and women’s team speed titles and the women’s scratch. The championships are broadcast daily on Eurosport 1 at 6:25 p.m.
P.L
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