A historic day for French para-cycling. The Tricolores made a real sweep of the road time trial events this Wednesday, September 4, with four titles, including two gold-silver doubles, and a total of 11 medals. However, there was one small downside: the women only brought home one medal.
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At 8am, it was Heidi Gauguin who opened the ball and set off on the Clichy-sous-Bois course in the C5 category. Despite a statospheric time trial, the 19-year-old Frenchwoman failed by just four seconds from gold, won by British star Sarah Storey, eighteen times Paralympic champion.
“This morning, I said that I wanted to finish 2nd because it’s true that last year, she took me more than a minute. So, for me, she was really almost untouchable. (…) Now, it’s true that failing by 4 seconds on a circuit like that is super frustrating (…) That’s how it is. There will still be the road race on Friday (road race), and I know that I’m in shape and that I’m going to get the best of myself,” the Tricolore, already in silver in pursuit by a few seconds, has already announced.
Second title in these Games for Léauté
Half an hour later, Alexandre Léauté once again adorned himself with gold, allowing France to (already) exceed its number of Tokyo titles (12 against 11). Entered in the C2 category, the 23-year-old rider flew over the clock by winning with a 2’16 lead over his runner-up, the Belgian Ewoud Vromant, whom he had already beaten in the pursuit final a few days ago. The morning ended with the third place of Florian Jouanny, triple medallist in Tokyo, in the H2 category.
“I really got myself into a bad state, so I’m very happy. Now, there’s no more frustration. I think my Games were a success. The goal was gold in the pursuit and gold in the time trial, and that’s done,” he rejoiced.
The time trial events then resumed early in the afternoon with the men’s B category. At 29, Elie de Carvalho won his first Paralympic medal, silver. Visually impaired, he was accompanied by his pilot Mickaël Guichard. In the process, Dorian Foulon (C5) won a new medal, this time bronze, after his title in pursuit.
Two gold-silver doubles in less than an hour
No time to breathe, Kévin Le Cunff and Gatien Le Rousseau were already on the verge of finishing in the C4 category. The French, who had faced each other in the small final of the pursuit, simply achieved a gold-silver double. The first, unfortunately losing to his compatriot a few days ago, took his revenge and climbed onto the highest step of the podium. “With two, it’s great”, commented Le Cunff, supported by Le Rousseau who “couldn’t have dreamed of better today”.
Then Thomas Peyroton-Dartet (C3) also joined in the celebrations and opened his Paralympic record in the most beautiful way by winning the title. “I’m moved, really. I can’t believe it,” he said.
Triple silver medallist in Tokyo, Loïc Vergnaud (H5) had to once again settle for this metal but preferred to see the glass half full. “There is a big gap with the first. So I fought hard to finish on the second step. Once again, we can say that I am the best of the others (laughs)”, the Frenchman put into perspective on France TV.
As a grand finale, Mathieu Bosredon and Johan Quaile achieved a second gold-silver double in the H3 category, the last on the programme, both winning their first Paralympic medals in the process. Enough to end the day with a real fireworks display.
- RMC Sport
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