The 21-year-old Frenchman will start his life as pro in Argentina's Vuelta a San Juan.
I was born in Clermont-Ferrand, a city in France most famous for its rugby team. Don't ask me why, but I was always drawn to other sports, like running, for example. Then, when I was 16 years old, I began riding a bike. The passion for cycling was handed down to me from my father, who was an avid enthusiast, even if he was always busy working and struggled to find time to pursue his passion for cycling.
I got in love with cycling from the very beginning. I love riding and cycling is a sport where you can really take yourself to the limit, yet it is not just your basic strength exercise. You need legs but also a good head on your shoulders to become a really good rider. I like the time trial discipline most of all. Perhaps because in the youth categories I always ended up attacking at 60 kilometers from the arrival and taking off on my own.
I definitely fine-tuned my skills as time trialist at that time. Year after year I worked on getting better until I got the chance to race for Klein Constantia and then for Quick-Step Floors. It was a dream come true! Racing side by side with a rider like Tom Boonen is incredible. When I was little I used to watch Tom on television and now here I am, racing next to him in the final months of his career on a fantastic, united team like ours! It's very exciting! It would be wonderful to be able to help him in one of the upcoming stages here in San Juan!
As for me, I still haven't told you that in the little spare time I have I'm also trying to study law at university. Between races I am attending law courses online and then, when I go back to Clermont-Ferrand, I take my exams. It isn't easy but my family has always taught me that it is always best to have an alternative, to create other opportunities. I would like to get a degree and then, one day, who knows if I could make it on to the police force. My father is a gendarme; maybe this is another motivation for me to explore this path. We'll see. For now all I want is to focus on my career as a pro rider. I want to see how far I can go and improve little by little. Starting right here in Vuelta a San Juan. I can't wait!
Photo credit: ©BrakeThrough Media
