Louis Chaleil was not originally supposed to take part in the Keizer der Juniores. Due to illness for a while, he had to change his plans and give up taking part in the Giro della Lunigiana and then the European Championships with the French team.So I wasn’t scheduled for this race, it was a teammate who was supposed to do it, but the team decided to enter me instead. Mentally, I really had the desire and the need to get a result. The team trusted me and I thank them for that.“, explains the man who was therefore aligned with the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 team.
THE MYTHICAL BELGIAN MOUNTAINS
The first stage of the competition was marked by the ascent of mythical mountains and put the riders to the test.I wasn’t very well placed on the approach to the Old Kwaremont, but after the Paterberg I managed to join the leading group.“, says Louis Chaleil. The Belgian cobblestones, often feared by runners, were nevertheless a Source of confidence for him.”I felt very comfortable on the cobblestones, and even my teammate Valentin Martinet was surprised to see me riding so fast there.”.
Thanks to the wise advice of Julien Thollet, the national coach who he will meet again very soon in Zurich, the current 6th in the DirectVelo Juniors Challenge was able to anticipate the key moments of the race: “I spoke to Julien on the phone before the race and he gave me some advice on how the race was possibly going to go, and it went exactly as he had told me.“. Namely a movement race with a lot of attacks. “There was a group that went out on the pedals, then another group came back from behind. Afterwards, there was a long part where everyone was attacking and I made a lot of effort to be in the right group”. He finally secured the essentials by finishing in the leading group of thirteen competitors who were fighting for the stage victory and the first leader’s jersey.
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TIMETABLE ON THE HORIZON
The next day, during a 6 km time trial, he once again proved his qualities as a rider, despite the distance which was not to his advantage.I prefer longer efforts, but I was motivated“. To finish 2nd, only beaten by the Dane Carl Emil Just Pedersen.”He was just stronger“, he humbly acknowledges. This great time trial allowed him above all to grab a leader’s jersey that he never left, thanks to an almost massive arrival that same afternoon during the third and final stage (see rankings).
After the Guido Reybrouck Classic in March, here he is, winning a new general classification in Belgium, a land which seems to suit him.I love the atmosphere and cycling culture in Belgium“, J2 confides enthusiastically. “That “It gives an extra energy, people play techno music on the side of the road and I love that.” In another style, he should very soon experience another warm and special atmosphere on the occasion of the World Cup, the biggest meeting of the year for the U19s. Louis Chaleil will represent the Blues only during a timed effort that he will therefore be able to continue to work specifically on in the coming days, since he will not be aligned on the road event where the Blues will play for the rainbow jersey with Paul Seixas.
