In a long interview to be published this February 17 in L'Équipe Magazine, the former sprinter who has retired for a few months formalizes for the first time his relationship with actress Hafsia Herzi, who is in the running at the end of February for the César de best actress for the film “The Rapture” by Iris Kaltenbäck.
Nacer Bouhanni will be at his side in the room: the couple have lived together for 6 years and are parents of little Noham.
In the interview published by the weekly, the two lovebirds talk about cinema, their relationship but also cycling.
The former 2012 French sprint champion and stage winner at the Giro and the Vuelta looks back on some episodes of his career and notably tackles his former boss at Cofidis, a team he frequented between 2015 and 2019.
“When they hang up, many top athletes talk about a small death.
I live again!
It is not an end, rather a rebirth.
I've been under so much pressure over the last few years, even before my fall.
It was walk or die!
Especially at Cofidi
s,
under the control of general manager Cédric Vasseur.
I suffered psychological harassment based on public humiliation and constant litigation.
He put me off cycling.
» His wife adds: “I met this gentleman.
He gives off horrible energy.
He pushed Nacer.
It destroyed him.”
“My neck has not regained its full mobility”
In the interview, Nacer Bouhanni also talks about the terrible fall he suffered during the Tour of Turkey in 2022. Launched at more than 50 km/h, he hit head-on a spectator who was calmly crossing the road.
In the conversation, Hafsia Herzi said "First, I was given a false diagnosis, we were talking about an affected spinal cord, paralysis... He spent around ten hours in a hospital corridor before being taken in charge.
»
Almost two years later, this fall still haunts the daily life of the former French champion: “I go to the physiotherapist every week and I have to have a new MRI because my neck has not regained its full mobility.
I have launched legal proceedings against the organizers of the Tour of Türkiye.
(…) This accident hastened the end of my career, at only 33 years old.
I could see myself riding for at least three more years.”
He finally retired last fall.