By
Aurélien Rey
Published on
June 16, 2024 at 4:36 p.m.
See my news
Follow La Presse de la Manche
“Still not serene with a cardboard heel… but the trend is towards improvement, so we’re trying,” Thibaut Lécuru published on his networks on Friday June 14, 2024on the eve of start of the 100 km of Ultra 01, in Oyonnax (Ain).
THE Nouainvillais would have been wrong not to try, since he simply won the event this Saturday late afternoon!
After 10:39 hours of efforthe crossed the finish line, within the confines of the rugby stadiumwith almost six minutes early on his dolphin.
“There werehuge rains on the night before departure And the course was a little ravagedso the organizers shortened the race to 94 km, with 4,700 m of D+ instead of 5,200,” he explains.
Two years after Yannick Noël
Ultra 01 definitely smiles on the Manchois, since Yannick Noël also won the 100 km in 2022. The native of Neuville-au-Plain completed the course in 10:11. “The organizers were hallucinating a little when I told them that I also came from La Manche! », laughs Thibaut Lécuru.
It is not yet certain to do the UTMB
Affected for several months by the Haglund syndrome (irritation of the Achilles tendon at the level of its calcaneal insertion), Thibaut Lécuru has been better for several weeks, even if the pain has not completely disappeared. Its 2e place on the 50 km of Bri’zeuse on May 25 had already reassured him.
His victory on Saturday over the Ultra 01 confirms his return to foreground. L’primary objective of his season remains to participate at the end of August in the UTMB, theflagship event from the trail planet, where he took the 38e place in 2021.
The 50 km is validated. Fingers crossed now for the 100 km and, hopefully, the 160 km. I would really like to do the UTMB again.
His first victory in an ultra in the mountains
The second step is therefore also validated, and with due process. All the lights seem green to see the 41-year-old athlete again at the legendary Chamonix event. But the person concerned prefers to temper it.
I still have a little pain, especially on the climbs. So I will see how I recover in the next few days, and based on that, I will decide whether or not I participate in the UTMB. I take it step by step, and I only shop if I feel good.
So that was the case when he decided to join Ultra 01, where he knew he was one of the favorites but didn’t put any pressure on himself. “I didn’t know the Jura, so I wanted to discover it and I went there to leave in peace,” he summarizes. But’Competitive spirit caught up with Thibaut Lécuru, who did the last 20 kilometers “all out” to resist the return of his runner-up.
“I gave everything I could!” » At the end of the effort, a first success on a ultra in the mountains for the athlete of the “+ de Sport” Team, who was able to count on the precious help of his companion for the supplies. “And this Sunday, we reverse the roles: it’s me who will follow her over the 25 km…”
Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.
