This Saturday, January 22, he will cross the border to join Azpeitia. The headquarters of the Euskaltel-Euskadi cycling team, located in Guipuzcoa. He is Maxime Renoux. At 18 years old, the young angloy swapped the Entente Iparralde jersey this winter (which brings together the juniors of Aviron Bayonnais and SA Mauléon) for that of Laboral Kutxa, the hopeful team of the Euskadi Foundation. Before starting the first of four hopeful seasons with the Basque team, Maxime Renoux talks about the off-season, his new team, L’Essor Basque, the first race of the season and his ambitions.
France Bleu Pays Basque: How did you come to Laboral Kuxta?
It was done quite late, for me, compared to the 16 other riders on the team. End of August – beginning of September. I made several podiums in a race in the southern Basque country. That’s when they contacted me and it happened. It was then the objective of the season, to be able to return to this team because it is the highest level in amateur. It was great news.
Since then, how is the season prepared, during the winter?
I have a team coach who gives me weekly training plans – remotely via different platforms – and so I have to manage to be able to do the sessions between class hours. Otherwise, I leave class and I manage to catch up with them. So it’s a program, with the number of hours of cycling you have to do per day, with some specific exercises. We have power meters, etc. The coach told us at that time, “you do intervals on such and such a power”, so we respect that. You have to respect it to the letter in order to be in good shape and arrive well for the races. This is the case for the 17 riders of the team. Then, we have some training where everyone is together, as will be the case this Saturday, January 22 in Azpeitia. There too, we do specific exercises, we test ourselves. On exercises, fun activities, with work over time and stage simulation. It’s relatively wide but it also allows me to get to know my teammates.
Being the only one from the northern Basque Country, how is it going for you?
At the head office, in Azpeitia, everyone speaks Basque, so it’s a completely different atmosphere and we’re all quite close, even if we didn’t necessarily know each other before. We saw each other for some on certain events but without really knowing each other. In the end, it gives a family atmosphere between us, even if I am the only one on this side of the border. In addition, this weekend, we will all have our outfits for the coming season. It’s a first so I’m in a hurry. A complete outfit, winter-summer with tracksuits. For the first time, we will really have this feeling of belonging, by all wearing the same colors. Even if it is obviously already official, the symbolism will be strong with all the others.
It’s a nice wink, your season will start on February 5th with the Essor Basque…
It is the race at home that I have been watching since I was little, which I have been since I was little. It’s a small goal, but hey, I don’t know what to achieve in this new category. We will see what it gives. Physically, it’s going to be very tough because it’s at a very, very high level. Above all, I need to be able to take pleasure and suffer at the same time on the roads.
In this first hopeful season, what goals have you set for yourself?
I haven’t set myself too many goals, because I’m mainly going to discover the category. I want to be able to help the team, go as far as possible, we have riders who are very, very strong, who almost turned pro last year. So overall being able to help them all discovering a whole new universe. Afterwards, I want to continue to grow. Already, I am more of a climber. I don’t have the physique for a flat stage. I have some shortcomings in sprint even if I try to fill these aspects there. But I really enjoy the climbs. As for the time trial, I haven’t had the opportunity to practice it too much. It’s an exercise that I like a lot, that I love and I hope to work on it in the years to come. What I particularly appreciate is being able to manage my effort over the long term.
With the ultimate goal of going pro…
It’s my dream… Like “former” cyclists who have passed through the Euskadi Foundation: Romain Sicard, Loïc Chetout, Cyril Barthe. I know that with this team, it’s the highest amateur level that I’m about to play. They will provide me with all the cards so that I can prepare, progress, work to achieve my goals. Now I know that the road is still long, that there is still a lot of work to do and that it has only just begun. But I intend to give my all. So, obviously, there is a little bit of pressure. But above all I tell myself that this is my first year with the hopefuls. Four years ago, so four years, it’s long and it’s short at the same time. But I fully trust the team.
And in relation to your studies, how do you combine the two?
It was already complicated enough until the exam period. But I don’t intend to stop. The DUT in business and administration management that I am doing in Bayonne is over three years. It is important to have behind a luggage, because you never know, an injury or other… So I’m going to push until Bac+3, until the end of the DUT. Then, I would like to be able to do a year with only cycling for my last year hope if by then, I have not yet managed to pass the course in the professionals.
On the family side, how do they live and accompany you in this adventure?
VSIt’s my mother who, from a very young age, has taken me to the races and who has always managed to ensure that I can compete in the best conditions, with always good equipment. Especially since she is also athletic (Françoise Diribarne, editor’s note), 2019 French veteran waveski champion. It’s a lot of investment and sacrifice. Then, you always have to manage to find sponsors. In particular material, this has been the case over the last two junior years. And to be able to achieve this project, to turn professional, it will generate new costs, so you also have to manage these on the side, with the search for partners. My mother raised me and my brother. My older brother is six years older than me. He had also cycled a bit. Besides, that’s what gave me the idea of being able to do it after damaging my feet. I know he is proud of me, he congratulated me several times. This year, he gave me a photo album with all my years of cycling for ten years, since my first license at Aviron Bayonnais.
– Anna Paul