Par
Baptiste Hue
Published on
Dec 29 2024 at 9:18 a.m.
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For once, it’s not Selles Français but bicycle saddles that will parade this Sunday, December 29, 2024 on the side of horse racing center of Saint-Lô (Manche).
While it was initially intended to support a sleeve of the Normandy Cup, the competition organized by the prefecture club was promoted to the higher grade of regional championship (and departmental) after the cancellation on December 8 of the test of Fécamp, swept by the storm Darragh.
10 championships
This is the 10th time in 45 years that the Channel has hosted the Normandy cyclo-cross championships. Before Saint-Lô, the event took place in Moyon (2023), Valognes (2019), Flamanville (2014, 2009), Coulouvray-Boisbenâtre (2004), Brécey (1994), La Bazoge (1989), Hamelin ( 1985) and Saint-Pois (1979).
250 runners on the day
A real boon for cyclo-cross enthusiasts in the Channel which will thus see one after the other for more than six hours around 250 runners on a circuit “worthy of a round of French Cup» according to observers.
On the elite race all eyes will be on the Norman cyclo-cross star for three years now, Cyprien Gilles.
A bundle of assets in the Channel
WOMEN: Vice-champion of Normandy last year, Pauline Bramoullé (AST) can aim for the crown. Her little sister, Manon, will try to keep her tunic among the juniors.
MASTERS: Among the over 50s, Gérard Bramoullé (Les Pieux) will have a hard time facing the Calvadosian scarecrow Cyrille Bonnand.
U19: With James Chatonnet, Enzo Lesueur and Charlie Dugay, reigning Normandy U17 champion, on one side, and the brilliant Paul Simonne and Martin Levillain on the other, the match between Moyon and Saint-Lô promises to be tasty!
U17: Winner last year in U15, Bricquebais Kimmy Letouzé can do well. Among the women, Noëmie Delafosse (VC Saint-Lô-Pont-Hébert) will want to offer the title to the organizing club.
U15: Champagne for AS Tourlaville? With a confident Aaron Codabey, this excellent training club offers itself a great opportunity to mark its permanence with a new regional champion jersey.
The “thoroughbred” Torignan, 7e of the final ranking of the Coupe de France, voluntarily ignored the World Cup roundthis Sunday in Besançon to try to conquer the regional tunic for a third time.
“I’m a chauvinist. Being able to wear a beautiful Normandy champion jersey is something that is close to my heart. It matters on a list», confides the 24-year-old runner, confident but nonetheless wary.
Since the start of the season, I have not had any competition at the regional level. But in a championship, you never know what can happen.
For Cyprien Gilles, the obstacles to overcome will mainly be Manchois. Here is the “quinté”, in order, on which we bet a small coin…
- Maxence Lemardelé, the suitor: he embodies the main threat for Cyprien Gilles. Amazing this year in the U23 French Cup, Maxence Lemardelé (21 years old) is convinced of being able to debunk the reigning champion. “I'm under no pressure, he's the favorite,” slips the rider from VC Saint-Lô-Pont-Hébert who will have the chance to compete at home, on a very smooth terrain. How he likes them…
- Cyrille Patoux, the constant: the old one is still there! Capable of stringing together road and cyclo-cross seasons, Cyrille Patoux (39 years old) demonstrates astonishing consistency. This winter, the ES Torigni rider notably won the Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte event, a round of the French Masters Cup and above all a French Masters champion title. Stainless.
- Steven Delprat, the ghost: after a period of slack, Steven Delprat (28 years old) has regained his momentum this season under the colors of VC Ferté-Macé. The Saint-Hilairien, former runner of UC Bricquebec and TBC, performed well in the Coupe de France in contact with the Elites (22e in Pierric) and omnipresent at the regional level, as evidenced by its success on the Beauchêne circuit on Sunday December 22.
- Toby Chatonnet, the all-rounder: watch out for him! If he is classified more as a road racer, the former winner of the GP de la Sainte-Anne and the Circuit des Remparts is anything but clumsy in the undergrowth. Already 8e last year at the Normandy championships, the Team Bricquebec rider (21 years old) seems to have taken it up a notch. He proved it again on Saturday at Mondeville by taking 2e place in the Normandy Cup.
- Sohan Herpin, the sparkling: champion of the junior road race, the resident of Lande-d'Airou asserted himself last year in cyclo-cross by finishing 3e of the Normandy championships and winning a round of the Normandy Cup on the… Saint-Lô circuit. The Moyon runner has just finished 2e in Beauchêne, proof of its rise in speed. Note that he is celebrating his 18th birthday… this Sunday!
Program. 10:00 a.m.: U17 boys and girls (52 entered); 11:00 a.m.: U15 boys and girls (42 entered); 11:45 a.m.: U7 and U9 (21 engaged); 12:00 p.m.: U11 (24 entered); 12:20 p.m.: U13 (33 entered); 2:00 p.m.: U19 and masters 50 and over (26 entrants); 2:01 p.m.: Women (8 entered); 3:15 p.m.: Seniors, hopefuls and masters 40-49 years old (45 entered). Free entry. Catering on site.
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