Cycling has returned to its playground

The cyclists, by respecting the health rules laid down, were able to resume their outings. Professionals have not shunned their pleasure rediscovering forgotten training routes with, in the bag, a freedom caught with envy after weeks furnished on home trainer, accompanied by physical sessions, jogging or walking.

“Those who are in Brittany have not been held back by drizzle. They all made me cool videos, tells Figaro Emmanuel Hubert, the manager of the Arkéa-Samsic team. Now it is no longer the fan that was in front of the trainer but a real fan, because it was blowing a good little wind. They all had bananas after finding their playground, because that's what they have wanted for many weeks. Climbing hills, face upwind, that's what they lacked. On the other hand, the Colombians, like Nairo (Quintana), had not yet driven on the road either. Since the end of Paris-Nice and his victory (during the 7th stage at the Col de la Colmiane, March 14, editor's note), he returned to Colombia, he did not cycle a meter, like Bernal. He was on a winning streak (5 at the start of the season). He is thirsty for victories again. He is as motivated as ever, he wants to start again. ”

" We felt, a fortnight, three weeks ago, depending on the case, a certain fed up with playing the hamster on balconies, terraces or indoors "

"Resuming our activity on the road in training is only happiness, for us cyclists, because the road is our workplace, our office in short," said Warren Barguil, on the team's website. Arkéa-Samsic. "We felt, a fortnight, three weeks ago, depending on the case, a certain fed up with the fact of playing the hamster on balconies, terraces or indoors", slips Philippe Mauduit, sports director of the Groupama-FDJ team. Roll. Before hanging a bib.

How good it is to resume old habits: Pas du Cerf, Babaou, Gratteloup! @bormestourisme. My #Giro helmet is still just as comfortable and my @Lapierrebikes bike is still going great! Good recovery on the roads to all, be careful and have fun! pic.twitter.com/4pvI7Tim9y

The world calendar, depending on health developments, should be concentrated from August to October (the Tour is scheduled from August 29 to September 20, the Giro from October 3 to 25 and the Vuelta from October 20 to November 8; Paris- Roubaix to start on October 25). “A program has been established, we have been short of races for months, we will not complain. It's up to us to adapt. What is needed is to work with runners, coaches, sports directors, coaches and say: such a runner, he can do 15, 20, 30 days of racing. The main thing is to overcome the recovery to get everyone to their destination. In exceptional situations, exceptional adaptation. We don't have to do all the shopping either. And there are 28 riders in a team ", underlines Emmanuel Hubert, his gaze on the Tour de France:" In view of all the conditions required today, it is true that it is apparently quite complicated. But I am sure that we are going towards the beautiful and that the civility of the French will make that we will get better and better, that it will improve. I am naturally very optimistic and the Tour de France will take place in good and due form, and it will be the great event of the return to sport. ”

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Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour, specifies: “It is in almost four months, the Tour, let's leave time to time. We would like to have answers on everything, right away, we don't necessarily have them. Everything will naturally depend on the pandemic. In Tour de France, the most important is France. But that doesn't stop us from setting goals, and that is the case with the races and the calendar that is set. "
The teams will try to adapt to the measures that will frame the resumption of training, hoping to achieve, gradually resume their habits.

" The riders are really all thoroughbreds, they wanted to let go of the horses on the road "

Emmanuel Hubert ensures: “In the first fortnight of June, we are going to need to repeat common internships. For that, we wait until June 2 to find out how much we can meet, where we can do it. In the meantime, we are somewhat in a state of uncertainty. To create these courses, you have to book and, today, you can't book anything. We are a bit groping, but as soon as we have the possibility of making even micro-groupings, with 5, 6 or 7 runners, with the necessary staff, a mechanic, plus assistants, we will do it. It is important to recreate this dynamic, recreate a group activity, to format the deadlines, to form the group for the Tour de France, we are used to doing this, but we had no travel constraints, number of persons. There, we will have these issues. For the moment, we are sailing a little on sight. "

At the time of turning the page on containment, the manager of the Arkéa-Samsic team, who has recorded partial layoffs for staff as well as for runners, retains a parenthesis: “Runners have it nearly all lived well. They are really all thoroughbreds, they wanted to let go of the horses on the road, they stomped around a bit in their house but they found their balance. And besides that, we almost had a little more proximity. In a cycling team, we all see each other in November, December and January, and after that everyone goes to their own races, and, in fact, there are riders and staff members who do not meet at all during the season, because everyone has a well defined program: that of climbers, sprinters, courses here and there. During this confinement, we shared moments on video with all the employees of the company, which brought us closer. Nairo (Quintana) and his brother made us share things from Colombia, like Warren on his Brittany, like the Dutchman (Bram Welten), the Belgian (Christophe Noppe), the Pole (Lukasz Owsian)… We shared small moments dinners. When we return to a "normal" life, I think that we will establish these exchanges ... "

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