A week after his silver medal at the French Championship in Pontchâteau, Joshua Dubau scored his first Top 10 of the winter in the World Cup in Benidorm (see ranking). The Van Rysel CX Racing Team rider, who started on the 5th row on this fast circuit, worked to move up to the group of favorites. If he paid for his efforts in the end, Joshua Dubau, reassured, knows that “the sensations are more than good“and that”the lights are green“, two weeks before the Liévin World Cup.
DirectVelo: What does your 10th place inspire you?
Joshua Dubau: I am satisfied. It’s certain that I’m missing UCI points and that I’m starting behind (5th line, Editor’s note). It’s even harder on such a smooth and fast circuit. But I’m happy with the race and the result. I had very good feelings, I was coming back well on the road section. There is a little bit missing in the final to play for the first places because I am paying for the efforts I had to make to come back up. When I returned 3-4 laps from the finish, it was starting to have difficulty getting up in front and in 10-15th position, you were more yo-yoing instead of being able to get back on track. You really have to still have the legs to succeed in making the jump at that moment and get back into 5th position, where there are a few moments of delay. I didn’t want to take the risk of going through the boards either. If I managed to pass them correctly, like Martin (Groslambert) passed them, I think I could play for the 6-7 place.
Is a Top 10 symbolic?
It makes me happy. I know I have abilities but this year I lack the points to be able to compete. But these are choices which explain why I am so far down in the rankings, there are no regrets about that. A Top 10 is already very good but the sensations are better than a Top 10. I know where I am and I know what I am worth. I do my shopping as much as possible.
“DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES”
-Is this a circuit that matches your mountain biker skills?
It’s a bit in between, between truckers and mountain bikers. It’s a fast circuit which requires power, and there the drivers are happy, but on the other hand, it’s a circuit where we lose speed and where we therefore have to start again from scratch, which the mountain bikers are used to it. It’s a good balance between road and mountain bikers. It’s fun for everyone. You have to have the legs but also run with the head, know how to use them at the right time and know how to manage the race time.
Can you still progress from here Liévin?
There are different objectives. To be present and perform at your best at the World Championship but also to be present during the MTB season. All the lights are green. I hope to spend a good week in the sun with the France team, to benefit from the emulation within this France group. I want to enjoy this World Championship in France, it doesn’t happen often and for the whole France group to perform well. I think there are things to play for among the young people and perhaps also for the relay. We’re going to have to push hard.
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