After the disillusionment of the individual triathlon (13th), Vincent Luis will try to console himself this Saturday (0:30 in France) in a mixed relay with the French team, triple world champion in the specialty and therefore serious contender for the medal Olympic gold. Before disembarking in Tokyo, Luis assured that in the event of a personal mishap, a collective podium would not save his Games. The native of Vesoul will however have to do it: after his bitter failure on Monday, the mixed relay, which is making its big debut on the Olympic program, is now his only opportunity not to leave Japan empty-handed.
For the French triathlon, which has still not known the joys of a medal since the discipline was introduced at the Games in 2000 in Sydney, this is also an opportunity not to be missed. Because the results are for the moment very mixed despite the 5th surprise place of Léonie Périault, the best result of a Frenchwoman at the Olympics. Solo defaulters, the Blues hope to be able to count on their good density to fill this void.
For this format unprecedented at the Games, which consists for each of the torchbearers in a short distance triathlon (300 m swimming, 6.8 km cycling, 2 km running), the French management trusted the Cassandre quartet. Beaugrand – Dorian Coninx- Vincent Luis – Léonie Périault. “We have ambitions, we have men and women among the best in the world in relay, estimates Benjamin Maze, the national technical director. Léonie (Editor’s note: Périault) showed it and sent a signal to the other international triathletes. It’s going to be a very dense race. ”
The technician wants to be “humble” despite the raid of his troops in mixed relay in recent years (4 world titles in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 3 European titles in 2015, 2018, 2019). “It’s an exciting event to watch but it can also be punitive quickly,” says Maze. From the first stint, you can quickly find yourself in difficulty and far from the ability to make a podium. It’s very tight, there are at least five nations that can play a medal. There is Australia, England, the United States and France but also New Zealand which is regularly on the world ranks. There are a lot of suitors. “
Unlike the ladies’ race, which took place largely in heavy rain on Tuesday, the heat will not be overlooked. 32 ° are expected in the bay of Odaiba, water at 29 ° and a humidity rate close to 70% …
