It is a situation that Thomas Denis and Valentin Tabellion thought totally unimaginable even less than three weeks ago. This Tuesday, the formation Xelliss-Roubaix Lille Métropole announced the passage among the pros, within it, of the two members of the Vendée U. Two transfers which were, in reality, prepared behind the scenes between the northern structure and the team of France track driven by Steven Henry. “The arrival of Thomas and Valentin in the Continentale team is linked to the track activity”, confirms the technician with DirectVelo. The goal ? Allow the two boys to better prepare for the deadline for the team pursuit at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 thanks to the high-level experience on the road and provide them with a financial guarantee to allow them to work more calmly in the long term . “The socio-professional status of trackers is complex. This is the opportunity for them to join a road team but their schedule will be decided in consultation with Daniel Verbrackel and myself ”. This year, only these two riders should be affected by this situation. Until perhaps other similar cases in the future. “Training courses for the French team on the track should be organized in the covered velodrome of Roubaix in 2021, within the framework of this agreement”, is it also specified on the side of the national coach.
The two riders concerned are obviously delighted with the situation. “It all really happened at the last moment, on November 15th”, laughs Thomas Denis, very happy with this great news. “The final objective is the 2024 Olympic Games. However, to arrive in the best possible condition at this meeting, it is necessary to pass additional stages on the road, and this is now made possible by the Roubaix team. ”. Valentin Tabellion shares his teammate’s opinion. “To walk on the track, you have to perform well on the road as well. The two are more than ever complementary. We saw it with Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Filippo Ganna and many others! We also see it right now with the Danish pursuit. All of these guys are pros on the road. I could also speak of Benjamin Thomas, who passed a huge milestone in the Omnium, until becoming imperial, thanks to the work carried out at Groupama-FDJ. It has become a necessary step, in fact ”, summarizes the one who explains recovering from covid-19 “slowly but surely” and “Get better and better every day” after being weakened by the coronavirus in recent weeks.
A CALENDAR ALREADY DESIGNED
This agreement with the French track team and the Conti nordiste, with a view to Paris 2024, does it mean that the two boys have the assurance, as of today, to wear the Roubaix jersey for the next four? seasons? “Not at all, it’s renewable every year. If we are not efficient on the road, we risk leaving the project and that would be quite normal ”, answers Thomas Denis. Although priority is clearly given to the track, Valentin Tabellion also cannot imagine dragging his feet in road races throughout the season. He wants to feel out of place among the pros. “I will give the best of myself. The idea is above all not to tell yourself that it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work on the road as long as you are good on the track. The Roubaix staff trust us, we owe it to them to do the same. I realize that it will take me a while to learn from the pros but frankly, eventually, I would be disappointed not to be good on the road. Going pro is above all a childhood dream ”.
Both Thomas and Valentin promise not to fear the first races on the calendar, they who risk being in the thick of the matter from February on races against WorldTour formations. “I am not afraid”, they both say. “To be afraid would be harmful. Many others have been there before us. There is no reason it should go wrong. On the contrary, I can’t wait! ”, enthuses the Breton. On the program for the two men: a very rich schedule on the road between the end of January and the beginning of April, then the first round of the Nations Cup on track, in Newport (Great Britain), in the last fortnight of April. Before focusing on the road again. The two men should then experience a slightly shortened end of the season on the road to focus on the World Track Championship in October. “We already have great clarity on our future calendar”, appreciates Valentin Tabellion. “We don’t need to ask questions, everything is already clear. We can thank Steven Henry and the Roubaix staff for this situation. We can plan and work serenely, it’s great ”.
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