In full swing since the beginning of the month (read here), Soren Bruyère Joumard did not manage to get fourth this Sunday among the U19s. On the Ferté-Bernard circuit, in Sarthe, he could have dreamed of winning two rounds in a row in 24 hours, but that was not the case. “Obviously, I’m a little disappointed. But you shouldn't overdo it, it happens. Mechanical problems are part of the game in cyclo-cross. I was going back to Théophile (Vassal) and Florian (Fery) but I made a technical error. I got tangled with my bike”he explained directly to DirectVeloSunday noon.
“By the time I got back in the saddle, I lost a lot of time. I found myself with Soen (Le Pann) and then I derailed twice in quick succession”. Out of contention for the win and even for the podium at the very end of the race, the Rhônalpin still managed not to give up. “Mentally, it was hard, but I stayed strong until the end to prepare for what came next”.
Positive point, despite an access which does not satisfy him (see ranking), his physical condition. “The legs were fine, it was not a limiting factor. Conditions were a little more slippery in places. There was a little mist, and more ruts made by the Elites and U23s yesterday, but that wasn't a problem for me”. Winner of the first round of the World Cup in Dublin on December 1st, he will now take part in the next rounds and will be monitored. But there’s no question of imagining crushing everything, far from it. “It's going to be weird being in the role of leading the World Cup but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself either. We will have to continue to explore there”.
