No regrets for Nicolas Breuillard. Ranked 2nd this Friday, in Spain, in the Classica Camp de Morvedre (1.2), the opening race of the European season, the Provencal had a smile as he joined the protocol ceremony (see ranking). “There is a lot of satisfaction. I had a clean winter, I turned a corner thanks to my good last season. Attacking on bases like that is great. I am very happy”assures the resident of St-Michel-Preference Home, at the microphone of DirectVelo.
“EASIER SAYED THAN DOED”
However, he was the victim of a fall 50 kilometers from the finish, on the first of the two climbs of the Alto del Garbi. “It put me in a bit of a funk, I had to change bikes and therefore make a little effort to get back on track. But it hadn't been in the war so it had to come back”. Well helped by his teammates, he attacked the second climb from a good position. “In the steep part, all we had to do was follow and see if the legs responded. I was discreet at the beginning and towards the end, I took the lead a little and set my pace”.
He did not follow Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma) when the winner of a stage of the last Vuelta attacked, two kilometers from the summit. “It took ten meters, I didn't panic because there was a headwind. It was still a long time, we had to stay with people”. Nicolas Breuillard then chose to set his pace within a group of seven elements and even managed to go out with only Sergio Geovani Chumil (Burgos-BH). “It was perfect, I told myself we were going to get along well and get back to the front runner. We got along well but in the end, we didn't go home. We weren't far down the descent, I thought it was going to settle on the flat but it did again. For our part, we were all in, taking turns.” There was not much to do according to the former AVC Aix-en-Provence rider to win at Estivella. “Perhaps we should have tried to follow him on the climb but that’s easier said than done.”
-“NEVER A HEAD”
This podium arrives before a big month of February when he will be present in all the races on the French calendar from GP La Marseillaise to Boucles Drôme-Ardèche. “It’s always close to home, on often tough courses. I am very motivated”. A strong start to the season would facilitate his move to a WorldTeam or ProTeam next season. “I had small contacts last year, but I want to confirm. It was hard to reason with myself but it’s good to start like this, it’s going to be cool this year”thinks the 6th in the 2024 Tour de l’Ain.
His team is counting on him a lot this season and according to the former French Espoirs Champion, the context is ideal to perform well within the Ile-de-France Conti. “We're having fun, everyone knows what they have to do and there's never any hassle. I will try to prove everything I can prove, and aim to go above in good conditions”. He is on the right path.
