Sunday December 29, in Aiffres, there is no question of seeing Lucas Mainguenaud on a cyclo-cross bike. After a long road outing in the morning, the rider preferred to devote the afternoon to encouraging his big brother Tom for victory. “No cyclo-cross for me this year, specifies Lucas Mainguenaud. I sold all my bikes. »
A winter with more volume
The Deux-Sévrien then chose to concentrate his winter preparation on the road, before starting his third season in National 1. “I did a much higher volume of training than the last two yearsdetails the young 20-year-old Forsitain, curious to see how he can progress in this way. I'm trying other things with my trainer. For the moment, it's basic, then targeted exercises will come. It's going well. »
Thanks to his arrival in the Vendée U team, Lucas Mainguenaud was able to return to his Niort habits, although he took a few getaways to ride in the sun. “I went to Nice with friends from the team for ten days at the beginning of December, continues the man who has covered more than 900 km with a lot of elevation gain on the Côte d'Azur. This weekend, we are also returning to Les Essarts as a team, before leaving for Spain in mid-January. »
Return planned to the Basque boom
After all this, Lucas Mainguenaud hopes to be in good shape for a weekend on the Basque Essor and for the Plages Vendéennes circuit. “An important race for the team”adds the Vendée U licensee.
His role in the team will be to be one of the cards for the sprint finishes. “I wouldn’t be the main sprinter but we have a great team for sprinting and to be good in all areas”explains Lucas Mainguenaud.
“I have to walk as quickly as possible. The month of April will be the big objective of the season »he starts, having identified the classics that suit him in spring.
For the rest of the season, no forecast yet. “The objective already identified is the French championship because it takes place at Les Herbiersrecalls Lucas Mainguenaud. Otherwise, the main mission is to keep the values of the club: the family spirit and showing off in the race. The results come a little later. If we don't work, it's because we lack training, so it's up to us to do better. »
