“With a total of eight medals, including two gold, what conclusions can we draw from these European Track Championships?
Let’s say that the number of medals remains anecdotal. But we take it. When athletes take part in a competition like the European Championships, we are not in calculations but simply to see athletes give the best of themselves. These European Championships were a continuation of the end of the qualifying period, which will continue with three rounds of the Nations Cup. The important thing was to establish the entry points for the quotas with the men’s and women’s team sprint, and the men’s and women’s team pursuit.
By detailing these disciplines, what lessons do you learn after this Euro?
To start with the women’s team sprint, the result is disappointing. We finished fifth and Poland is in front of us. We are obviously disappointed. For the first round of the Nations Cup in Adelaide (February 2-4), changes will have to be made within the women’s sprint collective. We have a fourth athlete available who was junior world champion last year (Marie-Louisa Drouode), and we can why not make a change in the group. Because, for qualification, the task becomes difficult and we will have to put out a very strong performance in Australia. This round will prove decisive.
How do you judge Mathilde Gros’ performance as an individual?
Physically, I found her very interesting. In the 200 meters, she was on the time of the world champion. The European level of sprinting is very dense and she entered the last four. It perhaps just remains to sort out the tactical aspect and find the right timing when making decisions in the race. She was already world champion and everything needs to get back in place.
“For the moment, his (Florian Grengbo) times are very, very average. I expect a lot more from him and for him to be more involved during training.”
On the other hand, the men’s team speed once again met expectations…
The team had a very good tournament and finished just behind the Dutch world champions. Sébastien Vigier and Rayan Helal were really strong in their respective positions in this team speed. But I think it could be much better collectively. In particular, the starter (Florian Grengbo) must be more invested and more engaged in daily life. Right now his times are very, very average. I expect a lot more from him and for him to be more involved during training. If he manages to lower his times, the team can be really strong. Despite everything, this second place in Apeldoorn perfectly establishes Olympic qualification.
When it comes to endurance for women and men, all the lights seem green…
We experienced some setbacks among the girls since Victoire (Berteau) was ill and, then, we experienced a mechanical problem in the first round which meant that we finished in 7th place. There is no danger for the end of the Olympic qualification period but we must not take risks and things will be adjusted for the next Nations Cups, even if endurance will not go to Australia. Same observation for men, who will be present in Hong Kong (March 15-17) and Milton (April 12-14), and who are also not in danger.
We see that, for men’s endurance, there are a large number of candidates. Is a core already breaking away?
As the team pursuit opens the door to quotas for the rest of the endurance disciplines, Steven Henry (the national endurance coach) carries out different coaching, as we saw in Apeldoorn with the integration of ‘Oscar Nilsson-Julien in the group. This is an opportunity for Steven to assess the level of athletes in high-level international competitions. And then there are experienced and very important riders like Benjamin Thomas, even if he did not participate in the pursuit in the Netherlands.
Precisely, Benjamin Thomas did not finish the omnium. What is the problem ?
His legs weren’t there and that’s why he didn’t do the team pursuit. He tried to do the omnium, but he had not regained all of his physical strength. But there is no alert, no urgency. The goal was not to insist either. He will start his season on the road and we are not here to put him in difficulty.
The gold medal of Valentine Fortin and Marion Borras on the American was a very nice surprise…
In this discipline, we are lucky to have the choice. If we go back to 2022, the different duos presented have won medals at the major Championships. Before them, Victoire (Berteau) and Clara (Copponi) also had medals. There is real good competition within this female endurance collective, which is determined and has great ambitions. »
