Amandine Fouquenet takes French cyclo-cross crown for elite women

Amandine Fouquenet (Arkea Pro) won her first women’s elite title at the French Cyclo-cross National Championships, edging Perrine Clauzel (A.S Bike Crossteam) by four seconds at the line in Pontchâteau. Marion Norbert Riberolle (Starcasino CX Team) secured the bronze. Hélène Clauzel (A.S Bike Crossteam) would follow on Norbert Riberolle’s wheel for a close fourth position.

The 19-year-old has raced in the elite division all season, her best finish a third place at Troyes Cyclocross International last weekend. Last year she finished 11th in the French national elite division, a year from winning the U23 title.

Sunday provided bright sunshine and dry conditions for the battle between Fouquenet and Clauzel, who had the race well under control with two laps to go. Clauzel held a 10-second advantage on the bell lap, but a slip allowed Fouquenet to close the gap, then pass on the final climb to hit the flat finish for the win.

“It's just magic, it's amazing,” Fouquenet told Le Télégramme after her win. “Perrine Clauzel was better than me on the technical parts. Despite everything, when she managed to take a few steps ahead, I never gave up. I was right, I managed to come back on it during the parts where it was necessary to have more strength. As soon as she sat down at the breakdown station, I took the opportunity to accelerate. I have always believed in it.”

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