The final of the French Individual Speed Championship was very close between Sébastien Vigier and Rayan Helal. If the first signed the best time in the 200 meters thrown, the representative of Salon Cyclosport took the upper hand in both heats to retain his title of Champion of France. “We had the same level in the final with Sébastien, it didn't come down to much“, comments the winner for DirectVelo. “I am very happy with this fourth title, I feel a lot of pride“.
In addition to the qualifying 200 meter dash, Rayan Helal competed and won seven matches. “It was a beautiful, very intense day, with very good matches.“It was also the third consecutive day of competition for all the sprinters.”It's the same for everyone, it starts with the kilometer and the keirin. I'm starting to gain strength, I'm regaining a little feeling“. The French Champion is also the only Frenchman to have participated in the Champions League.”It ended in December so I think that must have played a role in my condition today“.
DIFFERENT BENCHMARKS OVER 200 M
The French Championship track in Loudéac is 200 meters long. “The benchmarks are very different, it runs differently, it's more tense, he observes. Usually the sprinters go slowly, here it goes quickly from the start. The running patterns are very different“. Rayan Helal is also one of the rare ones to have managed to come from behind in the straight to overtake his opponent.
After the failed Olympic Games for the French speed team, a new season is opening. “We will see the selections for the European Championship but at the international level, it is a post-Olympic period with a little more recovery. There will be work and also personal objectives and the French team in the coming weeks“.
France
