Gravel World Cup: Impressive Performance by Alain Prost and Carolin Schieff at Millau Round

2023-06-18 11:58:10

SPORT The cream of the discipline had an appointment in Millau this Sunday to compete in a round of the Gravel World Cup.

For the second consecutive year, Millau hosted a round of the Gravel World Cup on its causses, labeled “gravel lands”. If last year’s winner was unable to defend his title due to injury, his then teammate at TotalEnergies Geoffrey Soupe, sixth last year, was keen to make his team shine, which sponsors the test. While a leading group of about fifteen people took shape from the first ascent on the Causse Noir, it was not until kilometer 90 that Briton Toby Perry went on the offensive. Behind, Geoffrey Soupe is on the hunt, with Nathan Haas and the American Russel Finsterwald. The positions will remain in this way until the Cazalous area synonymous with the finish after 146 km, which the EF team rider will complete in 4h34’43, seven minutes ahead of his pursuers.

“I had mechanical problems from the start last year, compared Geoffrey Soupe at the finish. This year, the start was more cautious and we temporized with the other riders, especially since there was a strong headwind on the plateau. It was nice to be in a group of 15. But I suffered a puncture at kilometer 90 when I was chasing behind the winner and I was rescued after 10 km. We explained ourselves in the final climb which I know well with the other pursuers. It’s good for the team to make a podium. »

Among the women, the battle was less tough with the German Carolin Schieff who took control halfway up the climb of the Pouncho while the Italian Virginia Cancellieri led a group of six people. Without being threatened, the German took 5h13’20 to finish her race in the lead.

Another runner expected at the turn, Alain Prost arrived first in his category in 4h35’54 over 101 km. Over 146km, Julien Absalon completed this event in the Top 50 in 5h07’14. “After having been a specialist in one cycling discipline, I’m trying my hand at all the others and this is my first competition in gravel,” he explained the day before when picking up his bib.

Full article and photos to be found in the next edition of Thursday, June 22.