It’s the end of 5 magnificent days for French track cycling, marked by a razzia of medals. This Tuesday evening, Sébastien Vigier won gold in the Keirin after a superb race at the European Championships in Munich. Winner in the speed race on Sunday and silver medalist in the team speed race, the Ile-de-France driver won again. While he had been in difficulty during the semi-final, and placed last at the start of the final by the draw, the Frenchman impressed. He crossed the finish line in first position after being penultimate with two laps to go.
This is the 6th gold medal for the French team in track cycling. In total, France won 15 in this discipline.
During the same race, Melvin Landerneau also grabbed the podium. While he had distinguished himself in the kilometer on Monday by winning the first gold medal of his career in a major competition, he won the bronze medal in the Keirin on Tuesday.
American-style French silver lining
It wasn’t the only smile of the day in the tricolor clan. Marion Borras and Clara Copponi first took silver in the American. Outstripped by Italy by a single point, the French women raced in the lead for a long time before being caught a few laps from the finish.
At the end of the day, Tuesday, it was the men who followed in their footsteps. Donovan Grondin and Thomas Boudat also took silver, placing themselves behind Germany who largely dominated the race. “For a first, it’s not too bad,” reacted the pair after the race.
These good French performances in track cycling (15 medals in total) bode well before the World Championships which will take place in France, in Saint-Quentin, from October 12 to 16. “It gives a lot of confidence,” admits Benjamin Thomas.
