Brieuc Rolland concluded a memorable season with an equally memorable victory. Last Saturday, the Conti Groupama-FDJ rider came out on top, winning the U23 Tour of Lombardy. His first victory with the reserve since he had won two successes at the Peace Race under the colors of the French team. Before making the jump to the WorldTour, the Breton returned with DirectVelo on this prosperous year, retracing his memories, the good and the bad from Zurich, which led him to 3rd place in the DirectVelo Elite Challenge.
DirectVelo: You finished in style with a victory at the Tour of Lombardy Espoirs!
Brieuc Rolland: We came with a lot of ambitions. Despite a completely failed World Cup, I knew I had good legs, it was even more frustrating to miss out on a Championship like that. I thought that my form would not go away, and that in Lombardy I would still feel just as good. In the end I was revenge for the Worlds. It went well for me, I found myself at the front, I got harder twice. I had a little strength left for sprinting and throwing the bike (smile).
There was also a moment of doubt in choosing the winner…
It was really tight, there’s barely a rim, I think. I came back with speed, I had doubts if I had passed it or not. There was a few minutes of waiting. And finally I was announced the winner.
“I WENT FOR IT ABOUT THE FÉDÉ AND THE FRANCE TEAM”
Lombardy concludes a hell of a season for you…
I am completely satisfied with my season, I don’t have a lot of regrets. I wasn’t really expecting such a season. Ending with a victory, for my last race with the Conti… I had never won with them, it’s a way of thanking the team which had never won the Lombardy U23.
What memories stood out to you during your season?
I would say the Peace Race, that’s where I put my arms up, it’s been a long time (smile). Regardless of the race, raising your arms is something quite exceptional and very important when you are a runner. I would also say the Tour de l’Avenir, especially the last stage. I proved to myself that I could climb for a long time and that it was something I could progress on. It reassured me on that side. It was two beautiful moments and obviously there is the icing on the cake at Lombardy.
You’ve already mentioned it, we can imagine that the World Cup is your big downside of the year…
Yes, I went there with great ambitions, the legs were really there. I had the ideal preparation with the Tour du Luxembourg where the level was high. I was on top. The day of the World Cup, clearly I was freezing, I tried to fight as long as possible but I lost against the cold. I had trouble braking, my head hurt, it was no longer possible. Abandoning my first World Cup hurt me, I blamed myself for the Fédé and the French team, it sucks to give up. But I stayed motivated, I stayed focused, I trained hard for Lombardy to finish on a good note.
Do you think you’re not yet resistant enough to cold conditions, or have you simply covered yourself incorrectly?
I know that basically I’m not great in cold and wet conditions. I’m losing my feelings, my legs are hard. There it was not expected that the weather would be so harsh, I did not leave super equipped. Once I’m cold, it’s difficult to continue fighting, the race slipped away from me little by little.
“THIS IS WHAT MAKES ME DREAM SINCE I WAS CHILD”
Earlier in the year, you didn’t come far from your first professional victory on the Polynormande!
At the time it was a disappointment, because the team trusted me once it was over. I had good feelings, I fought. At first I said to myself “damn, you missed out on your first in the pros”. But in remaking the film for myself, I think that in any case, Paul (Lapeira) would have come for me, I wasn’t strong enough to get him. The sprint was inevitable and I did my best.
You confided in a previous interview (read here) that you wanted to discuss with the team to develop your climbing skills. Did you do it and what will it change for your winter and the rest?
Personally, I had already gone on personal training to the mountains five or six times before Peace and the Future, to immerse myself in the passes. It did me good. This is what has made me dream since I was little, playing in the general rankings. This is the runner I want to be. This performance at Finestre reassured me a little, I told myself that I was capable of climbing for a long time. But I don’t have a program with the team yet, we’re going to start interviews at the start of the pro week to discuss the schedule. But we obviously agree on my qualities and faults. There is the time trial for example, where I must progress if I want to become a general rider, and obviously solidify the punch and the mountain.
Despite everything, you will still be Hope. Are you still going to race with the Conti regularly next year?
I haven’t discussed it with the team, but it will also depend on me and my development, depending on the schedule. Afterwards, the WorldTour calendar is already well stocked so we will see if there is room and if the team wants to send me to U23 races.
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