Arnaud Démare, the French sprinter of Groupama-FDJ, has been confined to a hotel room in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) since February 27 because of the discovery of positive coronavirus cases during the UAE Tour. He thought he would leave UAE only on March 14, after a quarantine period. But around one in the morning this Sunday, he was informed that he could finally return to France. A few hours later, he was greeted with his teammates at Roissy airport by Marc Madiot. The sports director was waiting for his runners with cider and pancakes as he had promised them.
VIDEO. Cyclists confined to Abu Dhabi: "Having thoughts like winning on the Tour de France"
In what state of mind are you at the end of your confinement?
ARNAUD STARTS. I didn't want to believe it until we were on the bus and then at the airport. Once, we had packed the bags and then returned to our rooms. Finally, we left the hotel around 3 am. I did not sleep last night or even on the plane.
How was your long day at your hotel?
There have been ups and downs. I had never experienced this. In the sports director's room, I had a conference via Skype with a psychologist. But since we are twelve guys in all, I could only have five minutes for myself. I went straight to what touched me: my wife, who suffers enormously from my absence. For a long time, she believed, and I did, that I would leave the next day. This wait was hard
On social networks, you have however multiplied the comic sequences on your galley?
It was a stress reliever. But the reality is that I was incredibly frustrated. I have accumulated a huge workload this winter and today I am at a standstill.
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Is it very harmful for you?
These are ten empty days, including six without a bike. To me, it's like emptiness. I have chained three home-trainer sessions per day. But that's not what cycling is all about.
Is the postponement of Milan-San Remo, where you won in 2016 and which was your first big goal, a relief?
I believed strongly in my chances this year. And then, I have such emotions in me that the next race where I will register, I want to win it. It's strange but that's what kept me going. It seems impossible when you only do home trainers. But that's what motivated me.
Was it complicated to wake up in the same place every morning?
To open your eyes, you must already close them. There, I had trouble sleeping while I was tired. I sleep so well, I woke up in the middle of the night. I cogitated and felt bad. I felt like I was on a cloud where nothing is real. I wanted to be woken up and told that it was just a nightmare. Now finally, I'm going to pedal in the open air.
Is this story mental suffering?
(silence). I have emotion to hear this question… (he sobs). I have put so many things in place this season in my preparation after a disappointing 2019 year. I made so many sacrifices. I believed strongly in myself. But it's hard to tell myself that I would never know what this work was going to give. Because everything is questioned. It was my best winter. I sacrificed everything. I left family meals, like that of my grandfather's 80th birthday where I went first to sleep. These sacrifices had to pay. I live for my sport, but my wife paid so much with me. And at the end, there is this story. I am disgusted.