Vincent de Bontin wins the 100 km walk

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“Being convinced that you have a strong mind is good. See if it’s true, it’s better. » It was out of a desire for introspection that Vincent de Bontin participated in his first 100 kilometers walkon October 26, 2024, in Lipsheim (Bas-Rhin).

Birth of an ultra-cross-country skier

Seven months earlier, the walker from the Entente Agglomération Cergy Pontoise Athlétisme (Eacpa) had been forced to abandon the French 20 km Championships, weakened by Covid while his preparation allowed him to qualify for an international match.

“This failure made me want to embark on a new project,” explains the athlete from Creusot (Saône-et-Loire), who practiced archery, cycling and running. before turning to walking in 2018.

Decisive meeting

A meeting in his former club contributed to his entry into the discipline.

Laura Duquesne (9 times national medalist and 3^e over 35 km in 2023) got back into it and tested it.

Both, now married and parents of two children, share this passion and include it in a busy daily life.

“I am a manager in the railway industry and my wife is a beautician. Walking is our decompression valve and our way of pushing our limits. »

His 100 km walk was experienced as a couple because Laura was his refresher during the 54 laps of the circuit.

Vincent had left nothing to chance: 24 weeks of preparation including 16 specific, weeks of training at an average of 95 km, an internship in Font-Romeu (Pyrénées-Orientales), advice from a champion (Alain Moulinet ), a well-studied supply plan…

24 hour view

“I was aiming for a time of 10:10. I almost achieved it by being in the lead from start to finish. I benefited from mild weather (17°C without sun or wind) and the support of my wife who allowed me to ingest 6 liters of liquid and 900 grams of carbohydrate during the event,” reveals the Cergypontain, who won in 10h15, signing the best French performance in ten years over 100 km walking despite blisters from 45^e km, adductor pain at 60^e km and stomach aches which required two stops.

This experience gave him the desire to exceed 205 km at the French 24-hour Championships in February in Bourges and then to be one of the 70 French people under 10 hours over 100 km. While continuing to coach his wife Laura and Émilie Merle (3^e of France cadets 2024 over 3,000 m.

Julien BIGORNE

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