"We always aim for the top of the basket!": In Fréjus, mountain bikers Cécile and Cédric Ravanel present their new gems

A black van pulls up to the entrance of the Creps Paca in Boulouris. Beige bikes with red forks are pulled out of the vehicle. For the juniors of the Commencal Schwalbe by Les Orres team, training alone is out of the question. Cédric Ravanel, coach of the AMSL Fréjus competition section and team manager, includes his two American prodigies in the training of the young Fréjusians: "They were in the downhill World Cup and are getting back to basics this week by having fun on a bike." The French organization arranges for the young talent to stay with the club's host families.

A vintage with an American accent

This year, half of the team comes from the land of Uncle Sam. Like Matilda Melton (18 years old). "Tilly was close to the podiums last year," recalls Cédric Ravanel (pictured below) , who runs the team with his wife Cécile. "She managed to finish third this season (in Loudenvielle). She's clocking times in the top 10 elite women. She's going very fast. It's promising." The American seems to be adapting wonderfully to life in France: "It's a good experience. Cédric and Cécile are very professional. I'm happy with the way I'm riding, how I feel on the bike."

The second junior, Bode Burke, opened the scoring with a win in Loudenvielle, in the Pyrenees: "I have mixed feelings because I fell in the following race. I hope to become more consistent and achieve a strong result at the World Championships (on September 6 and 7 in Champéry, Switzerland)." It was during his bronze medal at the World Championships last year that he caught the eye of the Varois. "I recruited him after that result," recalls manager Cédric Ravanel. "I think he can go very far."

The third, Austin Dooley (23 years old), is expected to return to the team after an injury at the start of the season.

"Socially fulfilled athletes"

In the Pierron family, the Varois have bet on Antoine (25 years old), already in the Commencal fold, who came to improve his skills: "He is solid since he qualified for the final from the first qualification during three World Cups. He is in the game and rides freely." As evidenced by an eighth place at the beginning of May in the Pyrenees.

Jack Piercy (20 years old), "the Englishman from Montauroux" , a child of the club, always wears the team's bright red tunic.

"We're always aiming for the top of the team rankings ," summarizes Cédric Ravanel. "I feel lucky to have athletes who are so socially fulfilled. They're detached from social networks. In our sport, we need to be fully responsive. The cognitive overload was such that our former riders were performing very poorly."

Val Di Sole, next stop

The next singles on the menu will be in the Italian valley of Val di Sole (Trentino), from June 20 to 22. "One of the most beautiful slopes. There are roots, rock, it's really rough. You'll have to be strong in the upper body," warns the manager. They're hugging each other. They're all looking forward to it."

An impatience linked to the two falls of the juniors during the qualifications in Leogang (Austria), tensed by the stakes: "There is a lot of stress among the young people at the time of the qualification. They put a little too much on it while riding at only 80% they pass with flying colors."

Lisa Baumann already wants to come back

The Swiss woman fractured her collarbone on June 4th during the Loudenvielle round in the Pyrenees. Immediately after undergoing surgery, the European champion is already thinking about returning to the circuit in July. For the adopted southerner, the goal remains the world championships in Champéry, on the track where she won her European title, ahead of the iridescent jersey of Valentina Höll.