Championships of France of country cross Espoir and Elite, in the Var on July 17th, 1999.

RENEWED LEBOUCHER

Lease the Third French title for the World champion Laurence Leboucher who however had to hang on in Sophie Villeneuve's wheel before putting down her in the descent...

Not technique the descent of the Var? The opinions are shared according to the qualities of the some and the others but a thing is sure, she allows to make, or to fill, the difference. Ask Laurence Leboucher. It is in this portion of the course that the World champion, who did not yet succeed in finding this year the condition which had allowed her to realize the big slam, Championships of France, Europe and the World, in 1998, managed to conquer her third national title in four years. It was planned. Indeed, confided Leboucher to the arrival, I knew that I would not succeed in going out in the bump then I made the material choice of a guidon raised on my cycle. That allowed me a better piloting in the descent. "

On this circuit peaking in more than 2200 m, the Norman distrusted particularly the mountain dweller Sophie Villeneuve. She had seen just. The thorough skier was her firmest rival. " You should not take off the wheel in the ascent, resumes Leboucher. I hung on. That deceived in sucks her. In the summit, I have her deposite and crossed to open the descent and there, I took risks. "

LEAVING NOTHING AT RANDOM

Side food, Leboucher had left nothing at random either. " During the World cup of Big Bear which also quarrelled in height, I tended to dehydrate more quickly than usually. Then, here, I put a little sugar in the water to slow down the process. I also paid attention to be eaten a little more because in height, even when we make nothing, we tend to consume more energy. Finally, I managed spot one week before the event for the good to adapt myself. "

Here are the statements of the new Champion of France who still explains the changes of shape a victim of which she is since the beginning of the season by a problem of thyroïde three-year-old old man. We discovered that during exams at the professor Dyne. The treatment which was prescribed to me in the time showed itself effective until the last spring. But since, I am blocked. An ostheopath recently worked my cervical and I have the impression that it helped me. I did not want to undergo the second session before the ride because they are rather heavy but I have to see again this specialist soon to put back that. "

Sophie Villeneuve, whose curve of progress we appreciate quite particularly since it discovered the MOUNTAIN BIKE in 1996, na thus not managed to pick up the title that she had meant. Very disappointed, she did not linger over the line for fivrer her impressions. Hardly she cursed on her lack of technique before intending to progress in this domain.

Other disappointed, Sandra Temporelli who thought he could take up with the title conquered in 1997. " I left a little bit fast and from the second bump I reported whom I was not in a good day, confided she. It is a day ride and I knew a day without. It is like that. It has been one month since I am in supershape and it had to leave me today. No luck indeed. As far as if it existed an organized classification road MOUNTAIN BIKE TEMPORELLI would take it easily with the fourth and the third place in the asset in these two Championships of France 99.

MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS

The atmosphere was a little bit strange on the finishing line full sun of this test Ladies. Same Leboucher did not succeed in smiling to this success. Idem for the other Champion of France of this ride, Hélène Marcouyre, the prize-winner Hopes. Her fifth scratch place left her a taste of unfinished She would so much have liked a podium. It has maybe been a little missed rhythm of the competition. I competed only for regional rides lately and it is not sufficient. At first, I was slightly frightened because I did not know the level of the others. "

On a course which it was necessary to make at its pace, Marcouyre did not nevertheless prove unworthy. She regrets not having been able to make better that last (4th) year but with her smile, its availability and its talent, sure that she represents well and truly the future of the French feminine MOUNTAIN BIKE.

From Henri Montulet

Leboucher - Dupouey, double blow

By imposing itself both upon the Cliff of Azure to Fréjus for the second time in a row the Norman and the Pyrenean deprive at the same moment the Cup(Cutting) of France of the term of difficult year.

Of note correspondent to Fréjus ( Var) Patrice BOIVIN

The great champions so possess this unique faculty : an inclination to return on the front of the scene when we already imagine them on the other side of the decoration. In the term of one year disrupted for the one by these problems of health, for the other one by multiple mechanical, professional and domestic incidents, Laurence Leboucher and Christophe Dupouey knew how to put an end to all the doubts of the most beautiful of the manners.

There, imposing itself upon the Cliff of Azure in front of more than 50 000 spectators and in front of an opposition particularly yesterday raised, both French champions deprived of Fréjus the most courted by the tests MOUNTAIN BIKE, keep their good in section of France and also opening of beautiful perspectives before the next Olympic year. A full box for tired two main actors whom we sometimes believed in lack of inspiration this year. After one " sound most splendors last year when Leboucher as Dupouey had appropriated your three titles, national, European and world with the Cup of France in addition, only the Norman had been able to keep her champion's shirt of France this summer.

    But the Cliff of Azure stays a ride in part. With 12 900 participants yesterday, all the records so beaten of influx, the Cliff shows of its solidity with, besides, the presence the best foreign runners, as the world champion, the Spanish Fullana for example. With also Laurent Brochard, world champion on road in 1997 to San Sébastien, Pascal Hervé come venture known the paths of the coast varois, the test did not miss hot pepper.

Christophe Dupouey, as Laurence Leboucher before him, protect even the suspense up to the end by imposing itself upon the sprint in front of Miguel Martinez at the sirs, Chantal Daucourt at the ladies. " I trusted Me in the sprint, confided the Norman to smile to lips. Although I did not recognize the arrival ., I rode hardly in the beginning of ride to avoid the return of Sandra ( Temporelli). It was the only one who could prevent me from winning the cup of France ". The victory in her same is however supposed to be in the background for Laurence Leboucher. " I met myself above all. My problems of health also affected me psychologically. I was next to my basketballs. I took myself in hand and there I saw again. Having surmounted all these problems, I come out henceforth stronger. The next year is Olympic and I shall be there, as I also dream to compete for the World championship road to Plouay.

RANKING :

1. Laurence Leboucher (GT), 41 km in 2 h 06'56" ,
2. Daucourt (Sui) at 1 " ;
3. Temporelli (Look La Poste) at 6"38" ;
4. Bach (Fun Bike) at 6'54" ;
5. Villeneuve (EGS) 
6. Enaux (Stop Services) at 10'02";
7. Puigros (Esp) at 11’12";
8. Gukronnet (EGS) at 1'l'39";
9. Fullana (Esp) at 12';
10. Triquet (Mouille) at 15'.

CUP OF FRANCE, end ranking.  1. Laurence Leboucher (GT), 900 pts; 2. Temporelli (Look La Poste), 871 lits; 3. Villeneuve (EGS), 840 pis; 4. Marcouyre (Look La Poste), 820 pts; 5. Souchon, 766 pis; etc.