It’s Juliette Labous’s turn to play the question and answer game for Cycling Times. The French time trial champion talks about her goals for this season, but also goes back in detail on the scenes of his national title won this summer. Good reading !
For those who don't know you yet, you have achieved excellent results in the juniors in time trial in particular, before joining the ranks of the elites, and you work at Sunweb, now named DSM, since 2017. What do you remember from these 4 first years with professionals ?
It is not easy to sum up these 4 years but I think I learned a lot over the years. I grew up as a cyclist but also as a person alongside the team !
In particular, you finished best youngster of the Giro in 2019 thanks to a very nice 5th place in the individual time trial, and you became French champion of the specialty this year, before finishing 6th in Europe. Do these results encourage you to specialize in 100% in the exercise, or do you also prefer to work on your skills in other areas, like the mountain for example ?
It is true that the time trial is my first specialty for the moment, but I want to be a complete runner to achieve my goals in stage races, and that therefore requires work on my qualities as a climber / puncheuse.
I imagine this national title means something special to you, can you describe this particular day in more detail?, the way you handled the ordeal ?
Yes this title will remain etched forever in my memory as it is my first national title among the elites.! I was keen to succeed so I had to be under pressure but I was very motivated. At the French championships I was accompanied by my parents and a physiotherapist / osteopath, and they put me in the best condition before the race. I was coached by a DS from Scod (SCO Dijon, ndlr) as in 2019, and he also knows how to put me in confidence and push me to the end of myself in the race. There are a lot of preparations ahead of the time trial and you have to succeed in doing everything correctly to be ready.. I felt good from the start but I started quite cautiously because I know it's often a problem when I go too fast, and I was able to accelerate in the second half of the race and the difference was mostly made I think in the last 3kms which were uphill and exposed ! It was a lot of emotions when I found out that I was the new French time trial champion ! Sense of accomplishment !
This special season has done quite well for you, but we can imagine that the preparation is not always easy, especially in winter, with all these restrictions related to Covid and the permanent uncertainty. How to stay the course in those long periods away from competition ?
Yes it is indeed special at the moment. I think more than ever you need to know how to adapt to all kinds of situations and see the long term. This is what helps me on a daily basis in the face of uncertainty !
The season 2021 fast approaching, despite the many cancellations. What will be your major goals for the year ?
I would like to show that I have passed a milestone this year and come to fruition with great results. In particular on the Ardennes (Liège Bastogne Liège in particular) and the Giro Rosa. I would also like to qualify for the Olympics but given that there is only one place I prefer not to put pressure on myself and simply give the best of myself in each race to get there !
This is a subject that comes up often in debates, but the development of women's cycling remains an important issue. How would you describe being a professional runner today?, in a largely male dominated environment, whether at the media level, but also financial ?
Yes this is an important topic right now ! I think I'm lucky to have arrived at this time because there have been a lot of changes in recent years and the environment is much more professional than before.. There is still a lot of progress to be made but many parties want to develop our sport. We are not yet at the level of the boys' media coverage and neither on a financially equal footing, but we must retain progress and have hope for the future !
To finish, do you have a particular message to send to young girls who also wish to reach the international level? ?
Yes I think the most important thing is to have fun on the bike, both in races and in training. We also need to surround ourselves with people who will support us in good times and in bad times.. And never let go when you have a goal in mind ! In summary for me it takes motivation, determination and perseverance !
A big thank you to Juliette for this beautiful exchange, we wish him the best for the coming season !
