Following on from his 6th place at the European Championship in Spain a little over a month ago (read here), David Menut produced another major performance this Saturday. The AS Bike Racing member indeed finished in the Top 10 (see ranking) during the fifth round of the World Cup in Hulst. While battling with current overall leader Michael Vanthourenhout and former World Cup winners Toon Aerts and Lars van der Haar. “I perhaps didn't explode with joy as much as at the European Championship. But to tell the truth, this 10th place is similar to my 6th in Europe because there is even more level. We are among the Belgians and the Dutch. It's beautiful. It's rare to have a Frenchman in the Top 10 in recent years, apart from Joshua (Dubau) and Clément (Venturini). I equal my best rank in the World Cup when I was 10th in the United States (at Waterloo in 2022, NLDR)but there was not the same density. It’s a valuable Top 10“he rejoices at the microphone of DirectVelo.
However, the recent winner of the Coupe de France made a start “AVERAGE” and found himself around 20th position. “It was a crush in the first lap and war in every hillock. For the girls, the first five or six passed and then it was on foot.” But he used his racing knowledge to come back. “I managed all these post-departure phases quite well. I had really analyzed and anticipated my bike descents. I managed to gain two or three places here and there. I was immediately very clean technically, which quickly put me back in the game. I jumped from group to group.”
“I HAVE NEVER FELT SO STRONG”
While not going into the red zone. “In terms of intensity, I didn't feel at any point that I was lousy. I was technically lucid and I put the watts in the right place without being above my pace. My management was very good.” He just lowered his flag in the final rotation. “I think I got stuck a bit on the last lap. I joined the van der Haar, Vanthourenhout and Aerts group. I started making small mistakes and I couldn't get past these guys.” Something to hope for even better in the future. “Within 10 seconds, I’m 7th, it’s possible.”
At 32, David Menut is entering his prime with AS Bike Racing. “Technically, despite my advanced age, I have never felt stronger. I have no stress on the boards and in the turns, I have much better trajectories. Physically, I remain a bit below the best. But I'm starting to have some experience with myself. We had a good internship in Spain. Unlike other years, I knew how to listen to myself and not overdo it. I do less and less loads during the season in training and finally, I am getting better and better in races. It's a whole that bears fruit. The team supports us better and better, the entourage is more and more competent. The micro-adjustments are important and allow you to gain 1% here and there.”
Cycling
France
