Total Direct Energie has 27 runners in its workforce. Among them, seven have nonetheless not pinned a bib this season. The fundamental purpose ? The well being context. “Basically, I had to take the Challenge de Mallorca (January 28 to 31), however the take a look at was postponed to May “, slips Marlon Gaillard, who had 12 days of racing at this time in 2020. “Me, it had to be at Rwanda Tour (February 21-28) “, breathes Valentin Ferron. Here once more, the Rwandan race was postponed to May.
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“To be efficient, executives need to run”
Therefore, the Vendée sporting administrators might have made positive to rotate their workforce so that everybody begins their season. But they've (logically) privileged the success of the goals. Thus, the crew's executives have primarily been aligned.
At the Etoile de Bessèges, for instance, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Pierre Latour, Niki Terpstra and Anthony Turgis had been current. “If they run every three weeks, they will not be able to maintain their shape”, Ferron alerts. Gold, “To perform well in Paris-Nice or the classics, executives need to run”, underlines Marlon Gaillard.
“It's frustrating because I ride my bike to compete”
A scenario that leaves little room for states of thoughts: “It's frustrating because I ride my bike to compete, but there just isn't a choice, supports Gaillard. It's the context that wants that… ”
“Of course I would really like to run extra, nonetheless there are worse issues in life, notes Ferron, second within the 2019 Polynormande. In addition, a massive quantity of races have been postponed till the spring. The season due to this fact doesn't finish in February… ”
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“There is a difference between testing and racing”
While ready to be aligned, Saturday February 27 in the course of the Faun-Ardèche Classic, the 2 former residents of Vendée U had been in coaching, final week, within the Gorges du Verdon. They did 25 hours of biking in 5 days.
“We carried out some tests, my values were good, it makes me want to resume”, says Valentin Ferron, 23 years previous. “There is a difference between testing and racing, moderates Marlon Gaillard (24 years old). Especially since there is a high level on these races at the start of the season. I expect it to be hard… ”
“We have the knife between our teeth”
However, the 2 boys intend to fulfill their mission. “I'm hot to take the breakaway or to ride for Pierre (Tower) “smiles Ferron, who completed second in a spherical of the Vendée Beaches a 12 months in the past. “We have the knife between our teeth”, Gaillard picture.
Both know that a good efficiency would give them extra visibility on their race calendar. “When the executives are on Tirreno-Adriatico or Milan San Remo, I will have to prove that I have my place for the Flandriennes”, specifies Florian Maître, who began his season within the Valence Classic a month in the past (January 24) and who will proceed it within the GP Samyn… on March 2.