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First European title in Elite

After successful French championship under his local club colors, Quentin is back in the French team and in an international competition at the European Championship taking place at the National Velodrome.

Three weeks earlier, he had left Bordeaux with a victory in the kilometer contest and he started the European competition with the same race. After 2 laps, he is 5th. Quentin does an excellent job in the last 500m. He comes back from behind to win his first European title!

On the second day of competition, Quentin runs in the team speed trial for the first time with Kévin Sireau and Sébastien Vigier. A great run during the qualifying round allows them the 4th best time and give them qualification for the next round against the Belarus team. A new victory with the 3rd best time offers them qualification for a bronze medal against the German team. 43″54 for France against 43″08 for Germany, the French Team finishes 4th in the team speed trial. Despite the lack of medal, Quentin is pleased with their performance and proud of this new and young French team. The best is yet to come.

On the 3rd day, Quentin moves on to individual speed trial. It’s a real test for him who has never participated in more than 2 trials during important championships. With the 10th best time, he qualifies for the 1/16th final that he wins but is later on disqualified as he stepped out of the sprinting lane in the last stretch. Quentin wins the second chance race with 3 competitors. He qualifies for the 1/8th with his partner Sébastien Vigier. This French dual benefits Vigier. A second chance race again for Quentin who qualifies for the ¼ final after an extraordinary catch-up. He races against the fastest competitor during the qualifying runs, the Russian Yakuchevtski. Quentin is no longer in shape to compete. The Russian wins and becomes the new European Champion.

The speed contest finished with a ranking for the 5th to 8th places. Quentin finishes 6th, hard to be happy with such a result! But he questions his results “It hasn’t been easy today with all the second chance races, but I managed to compete with my strengths all day and it’s important for the future”. The European Championship is a good start of the season for Quentin. In 2 weeks, Glasgow will host the World Cup 1st Trial.

2016 European Championship Photo Album

 

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