In the current context of health crisis, with all the uncertainties that hover over each event, they did not dare to believe too much. But Sébastien Welter and Charlotte Monnier, both residents of Thionville VTT, have rallied well, Wednesday, Turkey, where they will participate Sunday in the world marathon championships, under the jersey of the France team. “We are super happy! We thank the French Cycling Federation for being able to go there this year. Not all countries will necessarily be represented this weekend, ”appreciates Sebastien Welter.
The Mosellan measures his luck all the more as he will rub shoulders on the course of Sakarya, east of Istanbul, with the big names in the discipline, such as the defending champion, the Colombian Hector Leonardo Paez Leon, or the Czech Jaroslav Kulhavy, winner in 2014 and double Olympic champion in cross-country (2012 and 2016). Among other things… “We will try to do our best”, promises Sébastien Welter, curious to rub shoulders with the planetary gratin.
The Thionvillois and his club mate won their places for the Turkish meeting after participating in several events of the Marathon Series circuit during this season, in France and in Switzerland. “We fulfilled all the selection criteria,” explains Sébastien Welter.
–
Monnier, the only Frenchwoman at the start in the absence of Ferrand Prévot
Charlotte Monnier, in particular, did well to play her card: she finds herself the sole French representative in the women’s race, in the absence of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, recently crowned. at the world championships and d’Europe de cross-country. Also keen to do justice to the blue jersey, the Moselle will also have a lot to do to distinguish itself on a “long and exhausting route, with 2,500 meters of elevation gain. (3600 for men) ».
“In cross-country, the format is one and a half hours while the race lasts between four and six hours in a marathon”, compares Sébastien Welter. “We find all the specificities linked to cross-country, but with the distance, there is a different mental management. We must therefore hang on. “
–
