Adelaide, Australia. A large blue sky, an urban circuit drawn around the charming botanical garden, the imposing Saint-Pierre cathedral in the backdrop, the sea air of the West Beach very close to there: Idyllic and ideal frame for a Clara Copponi 2.0 Adept Sea outings in his spare time. After the big harsh blows of the 2024 season, from the huge slap of the Paris Olympic Games to the tears of the European Road Championship (read here), the Provençal wanted to strike hard from the start of this new annual financial year.
His smile (already), mixed with his concentration and his gesture mimicking a gunshot, a few moments before the departure of the Schwalbe Classic, said a lot about his found serenity, as on the determination of the training member Lidl-Trek. “The plan was very simple today. I had to stay on the wheels and wait for the sprint, while the other girls had to follow the movements ”she said in the post-race interview. Does the overpowered attack of the former double world champion in the time trial, Chloé Dygert, in the final, worried him? “We found ourselves in Indian file, but I was still well placed, in the five of heads”replies the one who has always remained very vigilant to important racing facts.
Forget for good 2024
To his delight, this “criterium” in the streets of Adelaide has therefore ended up in the sprint. And the least we can say is that there was no photo during the final packaging between large thighs. “I was on the right wheels, I was serene, I didn't want to go too early. Once Georgia (Baker) has launched, I went there too ”. Thanks to his beautiful advance when crossing the finish line, the 26 -year -old pistarde was able to have fun. The crossed arms – hiding her different tattoos – she mimics to pose. Air cool and rock'n'roll attitude. “It was funny!”she laughs afterwards to explain this gesture, above all “A bet with the career” team. “I had to do this celebration if I won today. It was above all a joke ”.
Much more than a joke, we can also see the strong sign of an athlete back in full swing and confidence despite the scars of the last seasons. “I hadn't won, even on track, for a year. It is always important to start the season in this way, to win ”. Especially since she had not done it on the road since she had left the FDJ-Suez for the American structure, during the previous winter break. Here she is perfectly launched for a year that she hopes much more delightful than the previous one. “I want to win again, as much as possible”.
