Nathan Bommenel may have matched his best performance in the U21 World Cup in his career, last Sunday, on the Besançon circuit, the AS Bike Racing rider first confided his frustration to those close to him, convinced that he had had the legs to get on the podium. “I'm obviously disappointed, from the start of the race I felt good. I saw that I was aiming for the podium. Tibor Del Grosso is still on top for the moment, we'll have to train a little more to tickle him, maybe at the World Championship I wanted to be in front at the start of the race. I had a little more complicated weeks, you had to trust yourself, run without inhibitions and I think I showed it there.he confides upon arrival.
Indeed, Nathan Bommelel very quickly took his place at the forefront of the event. “I had a good start, in the first 10 straight away. I didn't want to do too much at the start, then in the first lap I went 4th or 3rd, even 2nd. I was good, I said to myself “come on, we have to do it”. I saw that I was able to get back on Tibor a little, but I know he is on top so I shouldn’t do too much.”. The Espoir 4 therefore set its pace and saw some of its biggest opponents in its tracks. “I saw that Jente (Michels) was coming in, and I let him pass at the end of the third round”. But the timing is unfortunate, since his race will take another turn in the Belgian's wheel.
“IT’S ALREADY GOOD”
This end of the third lap is precisely the moment when the race for the podium changed. “Unfortunately Jente Michels fell in the corner before the finish line and we both collapsed. I let the podium slip away, or even the Top 5 because I started a little further away. All that remained was three rounds”. Finally, Nathan Bommelel had to settle for a 6th place (see ranking), like in Zonhoven two years ago, and after a 5th place at the last European Championship. “I think it's already good, I played with the best. I showed that I could play up front. There is a bit of disappointment, I saw the podium in France, that would have been cool with the world . But I can still be happy with my place.”.
After a “counter-blow due to the start of the season”the French Espoirs Champion returns to a very good level at the best time. But to avoid ending up completely disappointed, he would like to finally make it happen on a global scale. “I would like to finish with a podium in the World Cup, there are still Benidorm, Hoogerheide and the World Cup, so why not in Liévin…”. He will also defend his tricolor tunic by staying away from races and prioritizing training. Then in Liévin for the World Championship, he hopes to find a French audience as motivated as that of Besançon. “The atmosphere was crazy, I had the impression of being a Belgian in Belgium”. And they won't be far from home in a month either.
