The information was more buzz than anything else, and had hit more than one. Rohan Dennis, double reigning world champion in the timed exercise, and resident of the Ineos team, post a photo in his car, in full confinement, on the Spanish roads, with a very provocative message : "Day 34. I broke down and left the house. The Covid-19 and quarantine can go wrong… ». A gap that does not forgive in the middle, and which has been severely criticized by the press and the general public, forcing him to close his social media accounts. But beyond the simple moral aspect, this incident reveals the unease that reigns for professional cyclists, deprived of outdoor training for over a month. Some can still train normally, as is the case for Remco Evenepoel in Belgium for example, which goes on endurance rides on the Tour of Flanders roads. But for many, put on a jacket and fill your pockets with energy gels to go out during 5 hours is more of a fantasy. In France, but also in Spain or Italy, runners do not benefit from this flexibility and have to make do, them too, in the strictest confinement. A difficult situation to manage for some of them, like Thibaut Pinot, who recently confided in this matter : “It's still not easy for me. I was just coming back after a six month long break, which is a lot. Pause, it's already huge. I struggled to get back to the level and I'm afraid I will have to whip even more after this new stop. Will the three little months I have to prepare for the Tour be enough? ? I hope so, in any case”. Frustration, and also, without a doubt, a lack of motivation for the Groupama Fdj rider, who is training somehow during this difficult time. A feeling shared by many of them, who are worried about their recovery, but also for sporting equity, undermined by the divergences of policies according to the territories. The union representing professional runners in France has therefore submitted a request for exemption to allow them to train, who did not get an answer.
Growing pressure
Beyond the practical aspects of containment, the pressure on professional runners is very high at the moment. It is true that it is extremely difficult for a top athlete to go from 30 hours of weekly training within a few hours of a home trainer. The doubt, lack of confidence, loss of form, so many aspects that shake their certainties, in an already precarious environment. What to think of runners at the end of their contract, who will only have a few weeks at the end of the season to prove their worth ? The psychological risks are real for many of them, who see their career plans reset by this crisis. Lack of doping control is also severely criticized, because in a period like this, where the pressure is at its maximum, and where the gaps are widening, it would be welcome to maintain a control, to avoid the probable drifts in these troubled times. Nans Peters recently raised his concerns about this, also criticizing the lack of consistency of the situation, and in particular the fact that runners cannot exercise their activity even though it is possible to provide bicycle delivery services, a much riskier practice than solo training. In any case, this troubled period will have redistributed the cards, and there should be many surprises when hanging up the bibs, just like disappointments…
