They hung up their bikes… Some, a few months ago, for others it's been longer, but still have ants in their legs. Running has become a physiological need for these former professional cyclists. Impossible for them not to be on the move. “We need to run to feel good physically, supports Fabrice Jeandesboz. It acts a bit like a drug. » There are many in the case of the former Direct Énergie climber, 17e of the Vuelta in 2015.
The young retirement Julien Simon (TotalEnergies) also intends to launch into running to « keep fit and keep your heart in shape », after seventeen years in the peloton, competing in the Tour de France (eight participations), the Tour of Qatar 2008 or that of Kyushu, in October 2024.
The competitive spirit
Former cyclists becoming runners or trailers is nothing new. Laurent Jalabert started marathoning a long time ago, before turning to triathlon and winning a world title in an Ironman (in 2023 in the 55-59 year old category). Closer to home, we almost forget that Jonathan Parisé, Jérôme Lucas, Vincent Rouxel or Normand Francis Garnier and so many others started with Cycling. Bernard Hinault, who definitely doesn't do anything like the others, took the opposite path and started with athletics.
For Claude Salmon, the organizer of the Menestrail de Moncontour (OTT), an event in which David Gaudu (FDJ) regularly participates, this adaptation from one sport to another is ultimately natural. “Even if the efforts are not the same, they have the chest. Footballers are a hit over the 14 to 20 kilometers, because they are used to doing intervals, but as soon as we go for longer distances we find the cyclists. »
For some, performance can be an additional source of motivation. It seems that Audrey Cordon-Ragot (French road champion in 2020 and 2022) quickly “caught” the virus. “I hadn't run a trail since 2019 and, frankly, I surprised myself on the Hénantrail…
France
Cycling
