I had announced in last august that I definitely left high-level cycling. This statement has not changed, it still remains the case. Today, I ride three to four times less than what I was used to these last 5 years. Nevertheless, I will hang a number on my jersey again in 2016. Why this sudden change of side ? This is not really a change, I already planned to race a long time ago actually. And it will be the case no later than the next 10th of january : I will take part to a race under the colours of my university team, in the Saitama district. Three other are expected to come then until febuary. From march on, I will move onto the jersey of French-Japanese Neilpryde Nanshin Subaru Cycling Team.
Stopping high-level racing doesn’t mean stopping racing. I like to play cycling, since I am very little, and the competition is flowing into my veins. If ever the opportunity had not shown up, I would have kept riding from time to time, with the university team, aiming at nothing but having fun. But Neilpryde Nanshin Subaru offers me the opportunity to race on several continents, starting with Asia and Oceania, which I wish to visit this year. The sportive challenge is also interesting : as long as I am the only French rider to speak Japanese, I will have a particular role on and aside the bike. I will not necessarily have getting results as a goal for itself.
Despite that, cycling will always pass after my studies and my personal life. It is nothing more than a game anymore. It is hardly possible that I only race around thirty or fourty race days a year, including stage races ; it is also hardly possible that I don’t race for one, two months. Thanks to my experience, I am able to adapt my training and my behaviour but obviously, my level will decrease according to it. I have ended the last four years with more than 21000 kilometers ; I will start 2016 on the basis of 10000 kilometers in mind. It will be rather a strange preparation : cycling road-trips for endurance training, univesity criteriums for intensity basis and several specific trainings depending on feelings, time and work to achieve. I am pretty curious to discover what kind of level I could reach this way !