First French medal for chasers, Mathilde Gros off to a good start

At the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome,

To the supporters of the Saint-Quentin en Yvelines velodrome, the patience medal. It took almost 10 p.m. on Thursday to see France win its first medal at the World Track Cycling Championships. After the disappointing group shot of the lose for Vigier and Landernau, 4th and 5th in the keirin, and the frustrating 5th place of Donovan Grondin in the scratch race, the tricolor pursuers rewarded a voluntary public by going to win bronze against the Australians.

“The public was brilliant, I had never seen that, enthuses Clara Copponi in the mixed zone”. A podium snatched with style. Still in the lead, the French confirmed the good work glimpsed, where they had been narrowly beaten by Great Britain, while recording the second best time in the semi-finals.

“We are working on our history”

Cruel, but not frustrating as Valentine Fortin explains between two bites of an energy bar. “This second time in half does not mean much. The Italians [futures championnes du monde et tombeuses de l’Australie en demies avec le 3e temps] managed their race against the Australians, that explains why they were able to slow down. »

No bad faith on the horizon. The chasers are aware of the gap that separates them from Olympic gold at Paris 2024, but say they are on the right track. “We are working hard, underlines Marion Borras, quite proud to bring France its first medal. We are working on our story and we hope it will continue. That she will be even more beautiful. »

Vigier at the foot of the podium then on the ground

Sébastien Vigier and Melvin Landerneau would have been content with a story in bronze. The European champion failed at the foot of the podium. For the symbol, he even fell just after the finish line, in contact with the silver medalist, Jeffrey Hoogland.

“It sucks. The night is going to be complicated. I’m going to sleep really badly and I’m afraid it will impact my recovery, he regretted, showing his torn shorts along the left thigh. This result is a disappointment. Physically, I felt great, but I lacked anticipation. »

Mathilde Gros on a mission

To smile, you definitely had to turn to women. Mathilde Gros made a strong impression to reach the semi-finals of the speed tournament, which will take place on Friday. She turned each time at 65 km / h on average and has not been worried for the moment on the sprint. But the hardest part is yet to come.

“Tomorrow it will go up a notch again, against the three best in the world. The objective is to try things, to crush as much as I can and end up dead from this day, ”reacted with a big smile, the one who dreams of becoming an Olympic champion on the same track in less than two years. Part of it is an exploit on Friday.