Cyclo-cross. Selected for the World Cup, this Manchois will meet Mathieu Van der Poel

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It's not every day thata Manche sportsman has the chance to measure himself against what is best in its discipline.

While the Carterais skipper Louis Duc is currently facing the “Everest of the Seas”, the Vendée Globe, another “mountain” awaits in the coming days. Cyprien Gilles.

“He’s a person like any other”

Selected to participate in three World Cup roundsce Saturday December 21, 2024 in Hulst (The Netherlands), on Sunday December 22 in Zonhoven (Belgium) and Thursday December 26 in Gavere (Belgium), the ES Torigni rider will in fact have the opportunity on two of them to cross Mathieu van der Poel.

The six-time world champion performs its revival in Zonhoven, where it will attract all attention. But not that of Cyprien Gilles who learned to desecrate his encounters with the “beast”.

For me, he's a person like any other. I'm not fixated on him… Even if he has five legs longer than me!

Having already run several times with the rainbow jersey wearerobserving from afar his successes in Antwerp (32^e), Mol (34^e) ou Hoogerheide (40^e), the one who works at Decathlon store de Flers (Orne) is clear about the fact that he will not play in the same court.

The Normandy championship in sight

“It would already be good to finish in the Top 40. The World Cup rounds are fewer in number, therefore much more extensive and tougher than in previous years,” warns this pocket template, brilliant 26^e last year of the World Cup round in Flamanville.

I line up above all to have fun and also to work well for the next deadlines.

Before thinking about French championship (January 12 in Pontchâteau), its “big goal” of the year where he finally hopes to achieve a Top 10, it is towards the Normandy championship (in Saint-Lô on December 29) that his mind is turned.

A “very important” meeting in his eyes and for which he did not hesitate to give up the French round of the World Cup, the same day in Besançon.

7th overall in the Coupe de France

” I am chauvinistand regional title it's something that matters on a list», is justified double outgoing winner in search of a consecutive triple crown unseen since Julien Roussel (2014, 2015, 2016).

Author of a sluggish start to the season despite several successes like in Portbail or Valognes, the member of a Bauloise team specializing in cyclo-cross did it again full of confidencethe weekend of December 14 and 15 taking the 7^e et 10^e places in the Coupe de France, synonymous with Top 10 (7^e) au final general classification.

“I was walking on a tightrope since the start of the year. It’s reassuring,” rejoices the student of Arnold Jeannesson, 14^e of Tour de France 2011who remedied his position problem.

With his high-level approach, he gives me a lot of advice on nutrition, recovery, equipment… It's great!

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