Par
Fabien Deze
Published on
Oct 31, 2024 at 12:16 p.m.
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There will be a runner from Yvelines in the professional peloton in 2025. His name: Rayan Boulahoite. The 20-year-old cyclist will wear the TotalEnergies team jersey.
The information is enough rare to be emphasized. Since the retirement of Mantais Sandy Casar in 2013, no rider from the department has had this honor, even if the Irishman Nicolas Roche (son of the great Stephen Roche), professional until 2021, has ties to Conflans-Sainte- Honorine for having grown up there until the age of 12.
A child from Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Rayan Boulahoite has lived in Conflans since he was 6 years old. He did tthroughout his schoolingfrom the Paul-Bert school to the Jules-Ferry high school via the Montaigne college, and even cycled for a year under the colors of the local club, the Roue d'Or Conflanaise, in 2017. “I was minimal 1 and I won my first race in Éragny (Val-d'Oise), he remembers. It didn't last. I often finished one lap behind the winner. »
Cycling came to him by chance. “I dreamed of becoming a professional footballerhe confides. I was playing goalkeeper and one day, following a tackle, I broke my ankle. »
“I started cycling to rehabilitate myself and I was hooked straight away. Unfortunately, during my first training with the Conflans club, I fell at the station roundabout and broke my ankle again. I very well could have stopped there, but I still wanted to try again. »
Spotted by the prestigious amateur team Vendée U
Good luck to him. He quickly progressed by joining Team 94 where he spent four years, before a season at Argenteuil in 2022. “There, I discovered international events. My second place at the Boucles de Seine-et-Marne allowed me to join the French junior team. »
His great performances earned him the recognition of the prestigious amateur team Vendée U, considered theTotalEnergies reserve. In two years, he scored six victories and landed a contract in the summer of 2024 as a trainee with the professional team.
A hell of a performance before the black hole
His first among the pros takes place on August 11, 2024 at La Polynormande (37e). He continued with the Tour du Limousin, where he escaped for 150 kilometers during the first stage with a certain Valentin Madouas, silver medalist in the road race at the Paris Olympics. “At first it was a dreambut I quickly stopped thinking and gave it my all. That day, I scored points. »
The next day, during the second stage, the dream turns into a nightmare. In a descent 50 km from the finish, Rayan Boulahoite is the victim ofa fall at 75 km/h.
“I had a concussion, I don't remember anything and maybe it's for the best. I ended up with both broken collarbones. My season was over while I still had some great races to compete in. »
A week later, some news brings comfort to his heart. The management of the professional team offered him a two-year contract. “It was the emotional elevator. A big consolation prize! »
“Making the longest career possible”
In 2025 and 2026, Rayan Boulahoite, who will celebrate his 21st birthday in February 2025, will defend the colors of historical French training (under various names since 2000) which has welcomed great French champions (Thomas Voeckler, Sylvain Chavanel, Pierrick Fédrigo, Pierre Rolland…) and some international stars (Niki Terpstra, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Peter Sagan…).
«I can't wait to get startedto be on the first day of racing, assures the Yvelinois. I'm leaving with the idea of having the longest career possible. This is my dream come true. »
“Why not the Tour de France”
In an almost 100% French team, Rayan Boulahoite should logically play rounds of the Coupe de France for his first season among the elite. “We haven't discussed my program with the team yet. I wish I could discover classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix from next year. »
“And why not the Tour de France,” he adds. A race that obviously makes him dream: “When we tell people that we are a professional runner, they always ask us if we have already done the Tour de France. Nothing but e finish once in my careerthat would be exceptional. »
A runner made for the classics
The Conflanais does not expect to shine too much, except on certain stages cut out for him. “I will never be a climber and, besides, it never made me dream. I weigh 74 kg when I'm sharp. I need to lose 10 kg. »
“I’m more of a powerful, cobbled classics rider. I admire runners like Wout Van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel. I am ready to make all the sacrifices to reach the high level. »
“At TotalEnergies, I had a good time”
After spending a few weeks with his parents in Conflans, Rayan Boulahoite will head to Nice in the next few days toone month of training. Then it will be time to go on training with his team in December in Calpe (Spain).
He will hang up his first bibs as a professional at the beginning of 2025. “At TotalEnergies, I had a good time. Our manager, Jean-René Bernaudeau, often reminds us that he wants us to be runnershappy. » Today, he certainly is.
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