Worlds – Track – Grégory Baugé: “Mathilde Gros will not stop there”

PFor the first time in his young career, Mathilde Gros (23 years old) became world champion in individual speed at home, in a velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in boiling this Friday. After a difficult last season, thea Provençale beat in quick succession the double world champion Emma Hinze in half then his compatriot Lea Sophie Friedrich in the final, which she dominated as the boss 2 sets to 0. Something to delight her national coach, Gregory Bauge. “We will continue because we are still perfectible. It’s been quite a few Olympics that we haven’t been looking for a title. The objective is really to be an Olympic champion. Mathilde will not stop there“, explains the former track racer after the coronation of Mathilde Gros.

Video – Mathilde Gros, Gold in individual speed on the track!

Women Sprint Podium 🠆

🥇 Mathilde Gros (FRA)
🥈 Lea Sophie Friedrich (GER)
🥉 Emma Hinze (GER) #SQY2022 pic.twitter.com/63QDF5jLIn

— UCI Track Cycling (@UCI_Track) October 14, 2022

A first in sprint since 1999 and Félicia Ballanger!

A champion’s career and an enormous performance which made the French public roar with pleasure, thrilled with this first title for the French team in these Worlds. After a difficult start, France is climbing the slope with now 3 medals on the clock and a first Marseillaise to come. Mathilde Gros is only the third Frenchwoman to win the sprint, after Isabelle Nicoloso in 1985 and especially Felicia Ballangertitled five times consecutively between 1995 and 1999.

As a reminder, the French remained on a “huge disappointment” during the Olympic Games in Tokyo. “I started from zero, she assured before these Worlds. “I remembered why I was cycling at the base compared to basketball. It’s the pleasure I take on the track. Since then, I’ve clearly been in a new dynamic and a new perspective. I’ve done some good results but I know that the World Cup is not my main objective. I want to be ready for Paris 2024”. A new state of mind which therefore translated into a world title and the feeling that the French champion had finally found herself on the track. Auspicious less than two years from Paris 2024 Olympicswhich will be held in the same velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines…

Grégory Baugé at the microphone of Cyclism’Actu before these Worlds at the SQY!

The rest of the 2022 Worlds program

Saturday October 15

From 5:30 p.m.

500m Ladies – Final

Ladies American Race

Ladies Individual Pursuit – Final

Omnium / Men’s points race

Sunday October 16

Selection of France in endurance

Men: Thomas Boudat, Thomas Denis, Corentin Ermenault, Donavan Grondin, Quentin Lafargue, Valentin Tabellion, Benjamin Thomas

Women : Victoire Berteau, Marion Borras, Clara Copponi, Valentine Fortin, Jade Labastugue

Selection of France in sprint

Men: Tom Derache, Timmy Gillion, Rayan Helal, Melvin Landerneau, Sebastien Vigier

Women : Mathilde Gros, Julie Michaux, Marie Divine Taky Kouame