In preparation for the start of the 2023 season, Nacer Bouhanni, sprinter for the Arkéa Samsic team, is recovering from his serious injury which occurred during the Tour de France 2022 (fracture of a cervical vertebra).
This winter, he is also the author of columns for the regional daily Ouest France.
In the latest, he talks about the lack of diversity in cycling.
For information, during the last Tour de France, out of the 198 riders who started, only two came from the African continent and three from the Asian continent.
Nacer Bouhanni, even if it does not bother him, would like his sport to experience an evolution.
“
We are not many like me in cycling.
It's an observation, but it must also be said, diversity, in cycling, is not too much in the culture.
It would be good, honestly, for there to be more Africans, North Africans, in this sport.
They may be more into other sports, but in cycling most of the riders are very European.
It's like that.
Of course, I have nothing against it.
I feel good in this environment, but if it could sometimes be a little different...
"
Judgment on social networks
Very criticized after having packed Jake Stewart against the barriers during the Cholet-Pays de Loire race in 2021, Nacer Bouhanni had been the victim of racist messages from some cycling fans but he does not want to generalize: "
I I'm not here to victimize myself, I never wanted to talk too much about racist insults, I always wanted to focus on the rest and not pay attention to a few idiots.
This episode, two years ago when I received a lot of messages, I think the page has been turned.
»
“
Now, at the slightest mistake you make, it takes on an insane scale on the networks.
You have to know how to ignore it, not let yourself be demolished by that.
I think I'm finally getting there quite well
, ”he added regarding his relationship with social networks.
Regarding his recovery, Nacer Bouhanni will gradually return and return to Majorca or Bessèges competition at the end of January.
