Amandine Fouquenet has been a model of consistency since the start of winter, and the World Cup round in Dendermonde this Sunday did not disrupt her series. In six completed World Cup rounds, the Arkéa-B&B Hôtels rider finished between 11th and 15th place each time. This time she finished right between the two in Belgium (see ranking). “It was really physical, totally different from the recce where it went pretty well. I was surprised because we were stuck in the mud quite a bit. I was better at the end, but it's quite disappointing to still be at the bottom. foot of the Top 10. I really hope to get there by the end of the season, in the World Cup.”she nevertheless smiled upon arrival.
But given her start to the race, the Breton is doing well. Because the legs at the start did not give him hope of continuing this series of regularity. “It was quite complicated at the start, I was a little stuck in my legs. Then as the laps went by I felt that things were going well so I managed to overtake quite a few girls. I narrowly failed for the 11th place but I'm quite satisfied with my comeback anyway”. Victim of a fall in Hulst, with an injury that she has suffered since, the Breton woman chose to skip Gullegem this Saturday. “I preferred not to run yesterday, even though I should have done both normally. But after Besançon I felt the fall of Hulst”.
“I HOPE THIS WILL BE EVEN MORE RESOLVED NEXT WEEK”
After the Netherlands, she had some after-effects on her ribs. “It was in my chest and then it gave me the same pain as a broken or cracked rib. I had really pain when coughing for example. So in anticipation of the French Championship I squizzed a race and it wasn't bad considering the construction sites of the weekend it was better, but I feel after the race that there is a little pain, even if it is much better than this week.. She therefore took the time from Besançon to take care of herself. “I went home, I did some tests and there was nothing broken. It was probably a hematoma on the cartilage. I went to see an osteopath, he tried to drain and it was was still better so I hope it will be resolved even more next week”.
Because next week, she will return to Pontchâteau, where she was crowned French Champion in 2021. “I hope to get the jersey back there, it was my first title, close to home. I put less pressure on myself than last year because there was the supporters' club, I didn't want to disappoint them But at the end I'm the most disappointed when I put this pressure on myself. I'm going to try to do well, and whatever happens, I can't wait to race there anyway.. Then Amandine Fouquenet will take time to rest before heading back to the World Cup campaign on the road to Liévin. With, she hopes, a jersey other than the red of her team.
