Interview with the Mahikan Race organizers (more info -> CLICK HERE), a spectacular race that will take place in October at Le Plan De La Tour, in Loic Bruni.
Loic you finished the 2018 season once again in the rainbow jersey, what emotions of this last season and what expectations for 2019?
Last season was special, I started it with great confidence and in the first race I got hurt and worse than that I couldn't start, it took a long time to find my level, but in the end I managed to win a cup race of the world in Quebec and to regain confidence in my possibilities by regaining the world title. There have been several changes, because we also changed the bike, always the same brand but with a new frame, I moved house, I went to live together, so a lot of things that kept me busy, but everything went well. It is still early for next season, there are almost two months left, but I have the impression of being calmer and more mature, I hope d? having learned from past mistakes.
And the goal for 2019, if you had to choose, is more to seek a regularity in the world cup or to reconfirm yourself as world champion?
It is difficult to answer, sure that I have never won the world cup, so I would like to get there, so it remains a goal, but it takes things day by day, race after race and get to the world championship with great ambitions because I won the world cup race on the same track, which suits me and which we can hope for and we know that we have everything to be able to win it.
You have had a winter race experience at - 24 ° at the Mahikan Race and the UCI wants to do a winter world cup in 2020, do you think it could also be interesting in terms of preparation?
I already don't like the cold very much, I think it's more interesting from a media point of view than in terms of preparation, because on the snow you don't have the same grip so it's as if it weren't the same discipline, it's like asking a skier to ski on the sand
This year, among your opponents, who do you fear more the various Hart, Brosnan, Macdonald or the nouvelle vague of French riders?
A little bit all starting with my teammate who is going really fast but certainly the new French generation with the various Amaury, Loris, Thomas and other more experienced riders who demonstrate the very high level of our school in the downhill. Last year I let Amaury beat me several times and this year I'll have to deal with them above all. 2019 will be different for Amaury since last year he had nothing to lose but now he will have more pressure because he will have to defend the title conquered in the world cup, while Loris is acquiring more experience and maturity.
For the moment you are the second Frenchman to have won more world titles after Vouilloz, will you be able to match him?
When I was a child for me Vouilloz was "God", being currently at his feet is already a lot knowing that before me there were people like Fabien Barrel. Sure it can be a goal to reach 10 titles but it is not realistic I still have 6 titles to conquer but I see it hard since my career will end in 10 years ... we'll see ... but I'm really happy with my palmares.
Descent is a tradition in France, did your father pass on this passion to you?
Sure… when I was little I watched his racing performances on video, I always followed him. Then he began to take me with him to training, he taught me a lot, the love for the bike was inside me but it is he who made me discover it. I owe him a lot, but as I started competing in the World Cup he totally left the reins to my team with the "blessing" of him, very good too for my training as an athlete. He didn't interfere with my running and this job paid off.
Who are you "fans" in the world of cycling in general
In cross country Van der Poel who has brought some innovations to the discipline and Sagan who has given so much to current cycling even if he is a bit too presumptuous in the group and if I had to race against him I wouldn't mind putting my wheels in front of his.
Are there any changes in preparation on a technical level in 2019, entourage?
Absolutely no, I kept the same team from last year, I need my group of people to work well, we have a good winning synergy.
Are there any technical innovations on the 2019 Specialized bike?
This year the frame has changed, we spent a lot of time fine-tuning it even with an interesting wheel size and other technical features that make the rest of the season exciting.
