For Tom Mainguenaud, the year 2025 started like 2024 ended. By a success on cyclo-cross, more precisely, won in Camors, in Morbihan, in the wake of that in Aiffres in front of his public. “It’s a great victory. Winning in Brittany when the level is like that is always nice. The conditions were particular, even extreme, with cold and rain. I'm happy to have been able to win there, especially in front of riders like Tony Périon, Arnold Jeannesson or Cyprien Gilles, who regularly make top 10s or podiums in the Coupe de France.” slides the Forsitain, who knew how to tame the Petit-Bois route.
This close double also validates his sparkling physical form… almost a little surprising, given that he had not specifically trained for this break away from the tarmac, which was rather a demanding one. “I'm a little surprised because I'm not preparing for cyclo-cross. It's more of a preparation for the road season and I don't touch the cyclo-cross bike during the week. I only take it on weekends, during races”smiles the person concerned, accustomed to these winter games where the short and violent effort often mixes with the mud. “I don't do any intensity to prepare for cyclo-cross. On the contrary, it is the cyclo-cross events which provide the intensity of the week. It’s a discipline that I’ve always loved and I always try to do a little bit of it every year,” takes up the one whose brother Lucas, just arrived in Vendée U, decided to ignore the thing.
Focus on the road season
The high point will arrive this Sunday, January 12, with these French championships in Pont-Château, in the Pays de la Loire, to which he will arrive with a few ideas in mind after his 20e last year's place among the Elite. “When I see how things have been going for two weeks, three weeks, I tell myself that getting closer to between fifth and tenth place is possible”asks Tom Mainguenaud, who will nevertheless have to start quite far on the starting line, due to not having scored any UCI points recently. “But hey, Pont-Château is not the circuit where it is the most disturbing. We'll have to be patient and then we'll see, engage the one who doesn't put too much pressure on himself. If I don't succeed, it doesn't matter. It won't bother me that much, it's just a bonus this winter. »
Because the objective, the real one, will arrive a little later, at the beginning of February with the Basque Essor : that of having a full season with his new Laval team. “I hope to do as well as what I did this year. What I perhaps lacked to return to the professional peloton are victories. So I hope to be able to win a few more races, and good ones if possible. But in any case, I am motivated to do another season thoroughly, with seriousness and involvement. And we will do the accounts in September”evokes the Deux-Sévrien runner, who had to manage the sudden end of his team last October while he was on vacation on the other side of the world.
An episode now eliminated for good. And this winter conclusion could well launch him with full confidence towards this new adventure.
Elite Race Sunday January 12 at 3:35 p.m.
