"I did not recognize myself, 115 kilos it was not me": the click, Fabien had it by looking at photos of him.
The 40-year-old struggled to support his body, far from the one he was 30 years earlier when competing in high level junior mountain biking.
The decision was radical: “In two years I'll be doing the French championships again!
», He swears to himself.
Bet held, a few days to recover his bib, it is with 40 kilos less that he will be at the start of the French MTB XC marathon Championships on July 17, 2021.
To read also "Sport is what brings us together": a whole family of Eure-et-Loir at the start of the 100 km of Perche
In Megève, the landscape will be very different for this inhabitant of Saint-George-sur-Eure, in Eure-et-Loir.
Some 7,000 vertical meters await him.
However, he has required between 12 and 15 hours of cycling per week for eight months.
An almost professional program tailor-made by a Spanish coach.
Objective: cover 140 km in less than 12 hours
Whether it's raining or blowing, nothing stops it.
“On the contrary, I like it when it's difficult,” he says.
After a few preparatory races, the reflexes come back: don't go too fast, concentrate, win.
As at the time, his mother and brother will be in Megève to accompany him.
But, perhaps more important, this time around there will be his wife and son.
Those who did not know him professionally.
His objective is to cover the 140 kilometers in less than 12 hours but the competitor intends to distinguish himself in the category of 45 - 49 years.
Then the loop will come full circle.
Depending on his result, he will set a new goal to continue to surpass himself.
In the meantime everything is ready, his vaccination passport is up to date, he will therefore be able to place himself at the start of the Ultra MB Race on July 17, 2021.
