For this second day of the European championships, the French delegation won its first two gold medals, Friday August 12 in Munich, both in track cycling. Both times Benjamin Thomas was involved. Add to that silver and bronze in two other categories on the track. For their part, Laury Perez (BMX Freestyle) and Emma Lombardi (triathlon) each won bronze. A look back at the highlights of a day marked by six new medals.
Track cycling: Benjamin Thomas guides the French harvest
The French delegation snatched four medals in track cycling on Friday, including two gold. Benjamin Thomas contributed greatly to the harvest. Individually, the Tarnais won the points race, resisting the return of Robbe Ghys to seek a third title of European champion in the discipline.
Earlier, he was part of the winning quartet in the team pursuit. With Thomas Denis, Valentin Tabellion and Quentin Lafargue, Benjamin Thomas dominated Denmark in the final. In the same discipline, Victoire Berteau, Valentine Fortin, Clara Copponi and Marion Borras won bronze. The French defeated the British in the small final, softening the disappointment of a semi-final loss against Italy.
In team sprint, the French lost in the final against the Netherlands, in an identical scenario to the 2021 European Championships. Sébastien Vigier, Timmy Gillion, Rayan Helal and Melvin Landerneau brought home a silver medal, the fourth in the day for the tricolor contingent.
BMX Freestyle: bronze for Laury Perez
Earlier, Laury Perez unlocked the French charms counter in these European championships. The 18-year-old rider finished third in the BMX Freestyle final, claiming bronze. She might even have won the silver if a fall hadn’t prevented her from improving her score in the second run.
With 78.20 points, she finished behind Iveta Miculycova (80), new European champion, and Kim Lea Müller (78.60). A great promise for Laury Perez, two years from the Paris Olympics.
Triathlon: Emma Lombardi confirms and takes bronze
Being U23 world champion is one thing, confirming in the big leagues is another. A year after her coronation among young people, Emma Lombardi won a promising bronze medal in triathlon. At 21, the Frenchwoman was only competing in her fourth race in this Olympic format (1,500 m swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running).
Bad start in swimming, she started again on the cycling part. But Lombardi broke down on foot and couldn’t arrive first. Present in the same leading group, Cassandre Beaugrand finished fifth.
Rowing: two qualifications in the final for the French
The repechage was a lifesaver for Laura Tarantola and Claire Bové. The French duo qualified for the lightweight double sculls final, despite losing in series the day before. The final will take place on Sunday.
In four sculls, Victor Marcelot, Benoît Brunet, Théophile Onfroy and his brother Valentin also punched their ticket to the final. They will fight for a medal on Saturday.