Not a day goes by without an embittered reaction explaining to us that “young people today don't know what they want.” Léa Grondin illustrates exactly the opposite. At 16, the Reunion Island cyclist built her dream ti lamp ti lamp: to become a track sprint champion. With this objective, she went to CREPS in Bourges at the Overseas pole. She logs 12 to 14 hours of Cycling per week, in addition to high school classes. Its competition program is set for the next 4 years. Until the Los Angeles Olympics. Interview with one of the hopes of the French women's sprint. (Photo photo RB/www.imazpress.com)
Léa Grondin is a surprising young woman. barely 16 years old, an already extensive track record and a furious desire to devour the track (velodromes). Becoming a track girl: it's not the dream of many high school girls, but it's hers. And his motivation is nice to see. Léa made a radical choice in August 2023: she left for the Overseas pole (which brings together overseas hopefuls in different sporting disciplines in a single CREPS) in Bourges, far from her parents and the Reunion cocoon.
“It was complicated at the beginning. But I learned to become independent. I'm at boarding school, all year round. I take the normal 10th grade classes. Except that instead of sports, I ride a bike. We can go out on weekends, but I often stay to train. My coaches are very present. There aren't many girls, the boys are nice: it's my second family,” she confides.
– Léa Grondin, from Reunion Island to Creps de Bourges –
Bourges, for those who have not had the chance to pass through the center of France, it is not the most glam city in the country: 300 days of fog per year, country roads as flat as the speech of general policy of the 4th Prime Minister of the year… with the exception of the Pic de Sancerre. But between high school and training, Léa Grondin has neither the time nor the desire to go sightseeing.
“The velodrome is great. And I love sprinting! The Tour de France doesn't tempt me. Whereas the World Track Championships, the Track Champions League, yes!”
“I started mountain biking at the age of 4, with my brother, Raphaël Grondin. I then followed him on the road, within the Vélo Club de l'Est (editor's note, the club where she is still licensed). I wanted to beat boys. I then went onto the track, still in Reunion. The trigger? The French Championships in Hyères in 2022. While she was still Minime 2, she finished 3rd in the Cadette Open. “I saw my parents’ pride. I wanted to win other medals.”
– The Réunionnaise goes on to compete –
Léa Grondin hasn't stopped since: last July, she took first and second places in the Réunion Championship.
In September, in the Coupe de France, she placed first, second and fifth, respectively in the keirin, the 500m and the points race.
She unfortunately had to give up the French Future Track Championships in October, after suffering a major sprain following a fall down a staircase.
“It doesn't matter: I looked at the other girls, observed the mistakes, what gear they set… The sport is evolving quickly: at the previous Championships, we were limited to 51/15 and there, we won 5 teeth (56/15)”.
– Her model… Mathilde Legros –
His model? Léa Grondin does not hesitate for long. “Mathilde Gros. She gave me her world champion jersey!” Now 10 years older than Léa, Mathilde Gros shocked the world of track cycling by winning 3 gold medals at the Junior World Championships in Montichiari in 2017 (500m, speed and keirin). After a heavy fall in the keirin final the following year, it took her several years to return to the world summit. Mathilde Gros unfortunately missed out on her Paris Olympics… like the entire French track sprint.
While waiting to join her idol in the French team, Léa Grondin is training hard: “A typical week is 12 to 14 hours of cycling, plus weight training, in addition to high school.” Her favorite PR (Personal Record) is expressed neither in kilometers nor in hourly average, but in watts: “I once touched 985 watts. Only a few seconds,” she confides with stars in her eyes. .
When asked what advice she would give to young Reunionese women of her age: “Dare. Don't be afraid to dare to leave. I learned more in 18 months at the Pôle than in 12 years of cycling in Reunion.”
– Objective: 2026 –
The schedule that awaits Léa Grondin in the coming months is busy. She takes the plane again on the evening of December 31, goes to Bourges to collect her bikes to head towards the Brittany Velodrome, in Loudéac, which is hosting the French Elite Track Championships from January 2 to 5. She continues with an international event in Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands. A useful guideline in view of the Junior World Championships which will take place on the same oval in August 2025.
The month before will be the European Junior Championships in Anadia, Portugal. The objective is twofold: “to gain experience in U19 and join the French team, with a view to the 2026 World Cups in Belgium”. In their sights, Los Angeles and its 2028 Olympic Games. Léa will then be 22 years old.
“It might be a little early. And there aren’t many places…”.
We are betting that she will make her place in the French selection as effectively as in the keirin platoons.
To follow Léa, here is her Instagram account: @leaa.grondin
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Sport, Cycling, Léa Grondin
