Sébazac-Concourès. Genestoux: “In 2024, I spent more time organizing than practicing”

Initially, nothing predestined him to one day take the head of a triathlon committee, he the former basketball player of years Nationale 1 and 2 in Rodez. However, this has been the case for two and a half years now for Manuel Genestoux. “As my career ended, while I was suffering quite a bit from my back, I gradually turned to outdoor activities. One thing led to another, and I met people who were in that environment. We started to going to raid demonstrations on the right, on the left and then we got caught up in the game”he remembers. Before experiencing the first hours of the Aveyron body – which should enter into twinning with Lozère in 2025 – from the inside, in 2020: “We set up the committee with Emmanuel Fouquet (the former president, died on May 5, 2023, following a long illness)who was a very good friend of mine, to develop this practice. He was the one who took the reins for three years, before leaving us “explains the one who succeeded him.

Re-elected in December as head of the committee, alongside Aurélie Lacan, treasurer, and Armelle Devourdy, secretary, Manuel Genestoux intends to develop the body’s missions over the next four years, particularly with regard to competitions that it organizes, namely the Détox du Causse, the 2025 edition of which will take place this morning in Sébazac, the Swimrun du Lévézou, or even, more occasionally, a championship from France, like last year. “ Volunteers have difficulty getting involved in the clubs and in the committee, so we are going to reduce the size a little at the committee level. It remains under discussion, but we will focus less on the organization of events, which we will delegate to the clubs “, announces the president. And to specify: “ The Détox du Causse remains the committee that organizes it this Sunday and we will see what happens in future years. “ Behind this desire to lighten the tasks incumbent on him is also a desire on the part of Manuel Genestoux and his team to be able to continue a regular and competitive practice of raiding themselves: “ (In 2024)I spent more time organizing than practicing. Next year, we will try to put together teams for the final of the French championship, in June. And in August, we would like to return to the Sud Raid, which is one of the rounds of the World Cup that we already did two years ago, in a five-day format. I hope to be able to return to significant projects in 2025.” Because, committee president or not, Manuel Genestoux remains above all a raid enthusiast, who just wants to put on shoes and trudge in the open air!