French National Cyclocross ChampionshipsManosque, France, January 9, 2000Morel defends his title Courtesy of Daniel Schamps No change at the head of French cyclo-cross. Once again, it is Christophe Morel (now riding as a pro with GS2 Besson Chaussures since the start of the year), who is going to wear the blue, white and red champions jersey in 2000. The cyclo-cross championships took place today in Manosque (Alpes de Haute-Provence) 100 km far from Marseille in the south-east part of France. Yesterday the weather forecast previewed rain but it was a mistake, and the weather was fine and dry. Morel, Dominique Arnould and Jérôme Chiotti, all three former national champions (Arnould also former World Champion) were the main favourites, but there were still a lot of other riders able to win the gold here. Miguel Martinez (who was on the rostrum of the World cyclo-cross championship (under 23) a few years ago and World mountain bike champion), Christophe Mengin, Patrice Halgand, David Pagnier (all former national champions as well). The circuit was rather easy. No mud, just a few wooden planks to jump, only two places with the bike on the shoulder and several long tarmac roads. A bit over 2500 metres to cover ten times. At the start all the main favourites mentioned above led the group. Halgand (Jean Delatour) set the pace, but it was Duros who broke clear strongly on his own at the end of the first lap. It was only a flash in the pan, as he quickly slowed down and everyone was together at the end of the second lap. Patrice Halgand was the next to try his luck and this time it was more serious and Jérôme Chiotti (VS Chartres) was chasing him. Halgand was hauled back by Chiotti who carried on, and Arnould (Lorraine) joined him, but the gap was thin, between 7 and 10 seconds to Halgand, Morel, Mengin (Française des Jeux), Miguel Martinez, Cyril Bonnand (both from the CSM Persan, a club from the vicinity of Paris has had several national champions over the past 20 years), Loigerot, Pagnier (both from Charvieu-Chavagneux) and another six-man group 50 metres back. Arnould and Chiotti worked well together, but Chiotti had to change his bike and Arnould carried on a few hundred meters ahead on his own. At halfway, Morel attacked strongly. Miguel Martinez was the only one to join him immediately. At the front, there was Chiotti, then Arnould, then Halgand and at last Mengin, Pagnier and Bonnand. With 5 laps to go 8 men were still able to win. Arnould, who was still full of energy tried his luck once more but his "demarrage" was not strong enough to make a definitive gap. Chiotti, Morel, Martinez and Halgand were in close attendance. Just 7 seconds between Arnould and the chasers with 4 laps to go. Pagnier who crashed in the climb (in fact he almost lost his bike and had to go down to retrieve it) was 20 seconds down. With 3 laps to go, Arnould was still 9 seconds clear but then the chasers started looking at each other and of course at the first attack, the gap to Arnould was closed. Pagnier, after a long pursuit on his own joined the head group but it was really gruelling for him and when Bonnand (2nd of the championship in 1994) attacked, he was dropped again. Nobody was ready to lead the chase behind Bonnand and during the penultimate lap, 29-year old Bonnand looked like the victor crossing the line for the last time before the finish - 16 seconds clear. Christophe Morel chose at this point to counter-attack. It was very impressive and only Martinez was able to follow, 10 metres behind. Bonnand was quickly overtaken and unable to jump onto Morel's back wheel. Martinez suddenly exploded and it was Arnould who was the main danger for Morel in the closing stages of the event. But Arnould's move was too late, and Morel who began the last 150 metre long tarmac 15 metres clear was already sure of his victory as a disappointed Arnould freewheeled to the finish - almost overtaken by a sprinting Martinez on the line.
Results: 1 Christophe Morel (Besson) 2 Dominique Arnould (Lorraine) 0.05 3 Miguel Martinez (Csm Persan) 4 Cyril Bonnand (Csm Persan) 0.11 5 Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) 0.13 6 David Pagnier (Charvieu-Chavagneux) 7 Jérôme Chiotti (Vs Chartres) 8 Duros 9 Mengin 10 Perrin Elite Women: 1 Laurence Leboucher 2 Sandra Temporelli 3 Nadia Triquet |