Back on track: The Marion Clignet Journal 2004

French track legend Marion Clignet retired from racing in 2000, intending to become active as an advocate for women's sport. But after two years off the bike, and perhaps inspired by the other female champions she's encountered while working as a presenter for French TV, Clignet returned to the velodrome in 2003 to the velodrome in a determined comeback. After a solid year building a foundation, Marion's back competing at thehighest level in 2004.

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French National Championships - CN, Vallee Du Champsaur, France, June 24-27, 2004

Must have been the altitude

Must have been the altitude - the one thing I didn't have time to anticipate and prepare for - so it's been a lot of work for a new page to turn... the party's over!

The course was pretty rolling with a first easy climb of about 3.5km, leveling off and then getting steeper for another few kilometres with a false flat, descent, another little kick that really hurt and a short headwind stretch into a long descent and then the long flat stretch to the finish.

On lap one Catherine Marsal (ASPTT Metz) attacked the descent with vigor, taking Virginie Moinard (US Métro Transports), Magali Lefloch (ASPTT Epernay) and one other with her. The group seemed to be working well but were reeled in on lap two.

From there, a few attacks were tried and one stuck with Elisabeth Chevanne (Team Cycliste Féminin), Brunelle, Karine Dalmais (AC Lyon) and Sandrine Marcuz-Moreau (US Colomiers), putting an eventual two minutes on the remaining 15 in the peloton with about 30 further back. On lap three, I attacked, hoping to bridge alone or with big help, and was accompanied by two riders who also seemed to be suffering from the altitude. The remaining peloton of Jeannie Longo (Paris Cycliste Olympique), Sonia Huguet (UC Bassin Houiller), Joinatre (new espoir champion), Béatrice Thomas (UCC Vivonne), Finot, Edwige Pitel (VC La Pomme), and a few others rejoined us and we settled into a tempo with a few accelerations.

Huguet attacked right where it hurts at the top of the climb on lap three, causing old Marion here to shell out the back before sucking it up to scramble back on. Lap four saw another acceleration at the top of the first climb, causing myself, Finot, and a few others to get permanently shelled. Meanwhile at the front, Longo accelerated, leaving Pitel and Huguet behind her and soloed up to the break of three to win by over one minute. Pretty amazing stuff at the ripe old age of 46 eh? So at 40, I'm retiring young! My last party, so to speak, will be the Giro.

Cheers,
Marion

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