To join the competition, which begins in Australia this Sunday, the French cycling body made runners travel in business class and women in economics. She assumes this choice.
by (with AFP)
A choice she assumes and defends. The French Cycling Federation (FFC) was under the fire of criticism on Saturday September 17, for having decided to travel the runners in business class and women in economics to join the World Championships in Australia (from September 18 to 25). On social networks, many Internet users indignant of this difference in treatment.
At the origin of this controversy, an article in the newspaper Ouest-France which revealed that the nine runners of the French male team, including the reigning double world champion, Julian Alaphilippe, will make the journey in more comfortable conditions than women and the rest of the delegation (staff, juniors girls and boys).
The French Cycling Federation assumes it and explains it by the very important budget of the trip. “It costs very very expensive. Some countries like Ireland have decided not to participate in the world championships. We asked ourselves the question of whether we took all the categories, especially the juniors. We do it. But we cannot afford to put everyone in business, “said, added to the phone by the France-Presse agency (AFP), the national technical director, Christophe Manin, who gave up the trip by concern ‘Economy.
“We are more in the position of outsiders in girls”
He had to choose and for that, the French cycling body says it has based on a main criterion: the ability to get involved in the struggle for the title and the medals. “For men, we have been world champions for two years. We really go to win, when we are more in the position of outsiders among girls,” insisted Mr. Manin. Before ensuring: “We would have the world mountain bike championships in Australia with the same economic choice to make, we would put the two girls in business and the boys in eco” – Pauline Ferrand -Prévot and Loana Lecomte have better results than men in this discipline.
Two men and two women of the French elite team are already in Wollongong, on the east coast of Australia, to compete on the time trial on Sunday. Those engaged only on the online race on September 25 must join them on Tuesday. Questioned by AFP, coach Thomas Voeckler, who himself traveled in economics to reach Australia, said: “I focus on the sportsman and I have no energy to lose to leave From the moment [where] the runners of the French team are proud to wear the colors of the jersey. “