In the background at Nommay – 10th on Saturday, 12th on Sunday -, then 9th for the first of the rounds of the Pierric weekend, Tony Périou moved up a notch on Sunday by taking 5th place during the fourth round of the Coupe de France Cyclo-cross Elites (see ranking). A satisfaction for the Breton, who knows that he is not yet playing at his best level. “I’m on time. I feel like it's slowly coming back. Normally, I might be a little better in Troyes but in any case, the Coupe de France rounds are not the most important thing”call back to DirectVelo the one which aims above all the French Championship next January, in Pontchâteau.
On the Loire circuit, the Team VCP Loudéac CX rider “magnifying glass” his departure but “quickly back in the match” afterwards. However, he has never been able to compete with David Menut or Rémi Lelandais. “In front, the first two were riding a little too hard for me so I managed. Physically, I was there but technically, I was less strong than the guys. There's still a little work to do. I still reassured myself by finishing strong, which allowed me to get the Top 5”.
HEADING FOR THE WORLD CUP
And we had to work hard and play it smart in a group of opponents that had long been imposing, on a circuit where it was not always easy to make the difference. “Lucas (Dubau) was not rolling, to bring Joshua in. So I had to go. We had a big group. It was tactical and I was afraid of getting caught. I preferred to be in front and make the effort. Once on the wheels, I'm not very good so I prefer to ride. I managed to make the effort when necessary on the last lap”he is satisfied who even considers that he was “possible to get 4th place”.
No regrets, on the other hand, as to a possible place on the podium for the former winner of a round in Albi, almost a year ago to the day, November 12, 2023. “Timothé (Gabriel) came back and he came out, he was too strong. He's a cut above, he showed it on Saturday too. He deserves his third place”. In the coming weeks, the Breton intends to test himself against the best in the world in the World Cup, successively in Hulst, Zonhoven and Besançon. With, still in sight, the deadline of early January for the race for the tricolor jersey.
France
Cycling
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