Last weekend, in Sola in Norway, Christophe Brioux had the pleasure of racing incognito in the middle of the peloton in the Next Gen tournament at the Norwegian velodrome. “I didn't know anyone and no one knew metells the 18-year-old runner to DirectVelo. It feels good, we run more or less freely whereas in France, we follow the strongest. I went there to have fun. It was jovial“. On the first day in the points race, he placed 2nd behind the European Road Champion, Felix Orn-Kristoff who took a lap. “I had free rein to take points and I took advantage of it“On the other hand, on the second day, he is unmasked and his adversaries will be suspicious of him and point him out. “They knew me better, we went in pairs with the strongest (Orn-Kristoff, Editor's note), we got along well to ride“. And another 2nd place for the Track Team Arc Alpin rider.
This trip to Norway was decided a little before the French Future Championship. “The organizer had sent a message to several federations, we had registered (with Benjamin Pasquet). Guillaume Mondon from the Arc Alpin Track Team, and who is also my coach, took care of all the logistics“. The Sola Arena is one of the two indoor velodromes in the country (the other is in Asker). The building is brand new, having been built three years ago. The track center has the particularity of being deeply buried and well busy. “It is a good 3 meters below the level of the track. There are other sports that can be practiced and during our competition, there were gymnasts who continued their activity“, describes the runner.
“WE HAD TO STAY PLACED FOR 20 LAPS”
Christophe Brioux arrived in Norway with a blue-white-red jersey in his host. With his comrade from the Occitanie committee, Adrien Maury, the member of Villeneuve Cycliste became French Junior Champion of the Americaine. Their success came on the last day of the competition. “It makes victory more beautiful, especially as a team. Until the American, we hadn't had many results during the week. I was aiming for two races, the American and the Omnium“. He finished 7th in the Open, the day before the American, when he was the title holder. The two friends prepared their affair on the open-air track of Foix, in the colors of Occitanie .”We train there once a week“.
On the day of the coronation, Christophe Brioux and Adrien Maury had a tactic to follow. “We had to stay in position for 20 laps and counter after the third sprint“, rewinds the 2nd of the Marmande Val de Garonne classic. But the race decided otherwise. “But after five laps, we found ourselves escaping with the pair from Centre-Val de Loire. There was a neutralization due to a fall, we left with our lead and we took the lap. Then, we managed our lead well“. Without having exceptional legs – “we had normal legs” -, the Occitan pair therefore triumphed. This is what Christophe Brioux likes in peloton races. “I like the element of chance. Even if you are not the strongest, with experience, you can position yourself and do something good“. Christophe Brioux will have the opportunity to play head and legs again at the 4 Days of Geneva from November 21 to 24.
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