Grégory Baugé and Michaël D’Almeida can congratulate each other. After collecting medals in team speed, the two friends joined the staff of the French track team and now watch over the destinies of their successors. The French speed team, made up of Florian Grengbo, Sébastien Vigier and Rayan Helal, brought their first medal to the Blues on the second day of the World Track Championships in Glasgow (Scotland). At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the French beat Great Britain in the small final. Long behind, the French took the lead at the end – a time of 42’583, against 42’946 – thanks to a huge last stint from Rayan Helal, the Grenoblois licensed to US Créteil. The trio therefore won the bronze.
“It was at home, on their track, we have things to do and there we did it, launches Rayan Helal. My turn ? It’s not complicated. I was behind Sébastien (Vigier) and as soon as he moved away, I let go of the horses. I am happy with my performance. »
Since the arrival of the discipline on the program of the Worlds, in 1995, it is the 23rd medal obtained by the French speed team. The affront of last year in Saint-Quentin, where she had fallen from above by being eliminated at home in the first round, is partly lifted. A good omen one year from the Paris Olympics even if the Netherlands, crowned for the 5th time in six years, will be difficult to find. But the French have shown that they will be in the game with Australia and Great Britain to reach the Olympic podium.
” It feels good. Last year we took a serious hit on the noggin, recognizes Sébastien Vigier. Behind, the year was not necessarily easy, even the preparation. We feared it could happen again. But it ends well. For the moment the Dutch and the Australians are really on top, but we can be the third force and play with them next year at the Olympics. »
Men’s team pursuit eliminated
In the other events, the French team pursuit team finished 5th. With the fifth time in the first round, the French quartet – Thomas Denis, Corentin Ermenault, Valentin Tabellion and Benjamin Thomas – will not participate in the finals this Saturday. “There is a bit of disappointment, because we were hoping to go to the small final. We’re really not far. The Italians and the Danes are on top, everything has to line up next year at the Paris Olympics. The approach was complicated, and we even came close to being forfeited”, underlines Steven Henry, endurance coach who alludes to the fall in Monday’s training of Corentin Ermenault and Quentin Lafargue (forfeited due to a acromioclavicular sprain).
The French women’s team pursuit team, made up of Marion Borras, Valentine Fortin, Victoire Berteau and Marie Le Net, set the 4th time (4′14′’463) in the qualifying round. She will therefore face Great Britain, best time, this Saturday. The first two teams will qualify for the final and the next two will compete in a race for third place. In Saint-Quentin, the French women’s pursuit team won the bronze medal.
After the big disappointment Thursday in team speed, Marie-Divine Kouamé and Julie Michaux could not console themselves with the 500m (non-Olympic discipline). They did not qualify for the final. Marie-Divine Kouamé who had created the surprise by being crowned in Saint-Quentin last October, finished 10th (33′’676) in the playoffs, and Julie Michaux, 20th (34′’962). Clara Copponi finished 5th in the scratch.
