After another big season in the amateur ranks under the colors of VC Rouen 76, 2nd in the Challenge DV with nine victories (see sa fiche DirectVelo), Killian Théot signed his first professional contract, for the 2025 season, with Van Rysel-Roubaix. At the dawn of his discovery of the professional world, the 25-year-old from Ornais takes stock of DirectVelo.
DirectVelo: What assessment do you draw from your 2024 season?
Killian Théot: That’s a good assessment. I was consistent throughout the season. I had lacked consistency in other years. I was strong at the start of the season, then I had a bit of a hole in the middle and I came back for the end of the season. And there, really, I managed to maintain a good level all season. That's what was most important to me.
“IN THE CONTINUITY OF MY PROGRESSION”
In what state of mind did you attack the season?
In the same state of mind as all the seasons. I was motivated to have a good year. I wanted to continue to win as much as possible and have fun on the bike.
You are going to honor your first professional contract!
It’s a continuation of my progression. If I had stayed in Amateur, I would have been slowed down in the progression that I want to follow. I want to continue discovering new races and progressing to see how far I can go.
HEDDERED BY COVID
Was it always a goal for you to sign with the pros?
Yes, I always wanted to go pro. I knew that even if we are 25-26 years old, when we crush in Amateur, there is not much choice to take us. I knew I had to give my all and show that I had the level to become professional. That's what I did and Roubaix rewarded me by taking me with them.
What did you lack to move to the pros sooner?
I think that already with Covid, it was a little complicated. When I was young, I walked well, but people said I was too young. Afterwards, there was Covid so I lost two years of Hope. Then, we arrive after the Hope years and we are told: “now, we only take young people, we only look for nuggets”. I am thinking in particular of Florentin Lecamus-Lambert who was with me and who had exactly the same problem. It slowed us down. Two years ago, I had eight victories, I had almost the same season, there wasn't much I was missing, maybe a little luck. Sometimes you don't have the opportunity, the teams don't call you and there aren't places that become available at times. This year, things lined up well and I hope to have a good season.
“WE HAD TO WALK HARD UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON”
How were contacts established with Van Rysel-Roubaix?
I rode with Kévin Avoine, I got along really well with him at Nogent when we raced together. He came to ride near my house, after the Critérium de Lisieux. We had talked about next year and I told him I still had nothing, zero contact. We had the advantage that we knew Arnaud Molmy well from Nogent. Kevin sent a message to Arnaud who spoke to management about it. I didn't get too much feedback at that time and I told myself that there were no questions to ask, that we had to work hard until the end of the season and have fun on the bike. And there it was, it did it.
What did you think when you signed your first professional contract?
There is one person to whom I told that it would be for her… She is the wife of François Bisson, my first DS, who died this year. It was a tribute. I told her that the season would be for her and it really made me happy to be able to pay her this tribute.
“SEE HOW FAR I CAN GO”
What do you expect from the 2025 season?
I want to help the team continue to perform like last year. On a personal level, I want to continue my progress, not slow myself down, and why not obtain good results in my first year. We just did a little cohesion course which went very well. It’s a bit of a training club that will give everyone a chance. We will try to achieve the best possible results. I will give everything for the collective.
Do you think it will be important for you to perform quickly and show that you have your place?
With Clément Carisey, my trainer, we managed to lay a good foundation last year. It had worked well. This was what I was missing before, to have follow-up all winter to allow me to perform throughout the season. We're going to do it again this year, increasing the volumes somewhat and doing more specific training, because it's not the same way of running as among the Amateurs. I want to see how far I can go and I will do everything in training to perform well in the races.
