Thomas Gobert created the sensation by winning the French Cup Ecycling (see classification) for his first participation. On the eve of the French Ecycling Championship, the 20-year-old Ile-de-France, licensed at VC Montigny-le-Bretonneux, returns to Directive On his success and traces his journey.
Directvelo: You won the French Cup Ecycling 2024!
Thomas Gobert: To be honest, I did not expect to perform at all in such a way. It's a hell of a surprise. I knew that I had a good little engine on the road but I got very few results as I have big investment problems and that I am afraid in the peloton. I spend a lot of power to compensate for these shortcomings. Regarding the Ecycling, I watched a few small tutorials on YouTube which explained the strategy and how the aspiration worked and how to use Powerwatts. I lack a lot of experience compared to experienced players.
“I have seen the announcement on the internet by chance”
Why were you absent from the previous two editions of the French Cup and what is your journey?
Simply because I was not aware that it existed. After practicing tennis, I started the bike on the road following the first confinement. My father was a courier in Rueil, it was he who motivated me. Then I started to cycle connected during the second confinement just to do something other than Home Trainer in front of a series. Then I did not bike for three years due to studies and my preparation. I resumed in July 2023 only on the road. During the winter, I did not do Home Trainer at all. At the beginning of 2024, I was access 1 and I won two races. I went up Open 3 in May, I mainly run in Ile-de-France. Then in September, I got back on the Home Trainer because I wanted to keep my physical form of summer. I was looking at if there were races to train but I did not have the competitive aspect that I really discovered on the Coupe de France. I have seen the announcement on the internet by chance. As I have an FFC license, I said to myself why not, I spoke a little with the president of my club. He said to me: “Go for it, you have nothing to lose”.
You have beaten some elites or former experienced elites!
I did not necessarily know many people who participated in the Coupe de France. But when I looked at their history on DirectiveI saw that there were sacred customers how for example Sébastien Havot. By looking back, it is an honor to be able to confront me.
You were all the time leader in the general classification during the five rounds! How did you build your victory?
I was pleasantly surprised by the elevation of all the events. The profiles were quite hilly and it was rather favorable to me, I really enjoyed them. I am not necessarily very good in the sprint. During the fourth act, the race lasted more than 1:30 with in the middle the Kom Volcano, it was a great experience, there was rhythm, I was able to enjoy.
“Like a tempo race”
How did you prepare for the French Ecycling Championship this Saturday?
I cut out during the holidays. Since the beginning of January, I have returned to the volume to get ready. I alternated with road trips to perform weak aerobic. Even if the goal is to perform in the French championship, I still wanted to take advantage of the road and ride with friends. From time to time, I participated in a small connected bicycle race to make intense efforts and reproduce intensities comparable to the championship.
What is your goal on this French championship and what do you think of the routes?
For the semi-final, there is a bump with at least 80 meters of elevation gain, there is a way to make deviations, that suits me. For the final, the format is more exotic and is not necessarily for me. It is a criterium with 22 laps and there will be sprints all the half-turn which will only bring a point to the 1st. It will be like a tempo race on track. There will probably be a lot of strategy. But the positive point is that it will only be ten at the start so it will limit team strategies to harm someone. Given my results in the French Cup, I hope to perform. But I am still used to staying modest and I must already qualify in the final, it is not done.
Do you imagine in the world championship?
I don't necessarily want to project myself. Roman MALBREIL (The Ecycling Mission Manager at the FFC, editor's note) had spoken me in view of my results in the French Cup. It can be a goal but it will also depend on my state of form by October and my performance in the French championship.
