The para-cycling road events take place from Wednesday to Saturday in Seine-Saint-Denis, in the 93. A change of scenery compared to the Olympic Games and which has attracted some criticism. Marie Patouillet, fifth in the C5 time trial, saw positive aspects in this choice.
From Trocadéro to Clichy-sous-Bois. While the cyclists took part in the Olympic Games events in sometimes picture-postcard settings, the para-cyclists must compete in Seine-Saint-Denis, in the 93. Fifth in the time trial in her category (C5) this Wednesday, the Frenchwoman Marie Patouillet was rather happy with the message sent.
“Maybe it will introduce some people to para sport”
“For me, it’s very exciting to do these events in Seine-Saint-Denis,” said the woman who became the Paralympic individual pursuit champion at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome. “Of course, it would have been great to do it in the nice Parisian neighborhoods, but let’s say that depending on the neighborhood, we didn’t have the same privileges.”
In Marie Patouillet’s category, her compatriot Heïdi Gaugain took the silver medal. The two friends met last Sunday in the final of the individual pursuit, with Patouillet, who will retire from sport after the Paralympic Games, winning.
The French are expecting a good harvest in the para-cycling road events. Several of them did not hide their disappointment with the course, compared to that proposed by the Olympic Games. “Maybe it will introduce some people to para sport and their children or their relatives will be able to take up sport, without their disability being a hindrance”, hoped Patouillet. “I think it’s great to go and show para sport to all populations.”
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