Cycling World Championships: French Federation defends decision to fly female riders to Australia in economy

The French Cycling Federation has defended its decision to send its men’s team to the World Cycling Championships in Australia in business class while the women’s team goes in economy.

But Christophe Manin, national technical director of French cycling, said the decision was based on money and men’s higher chances of winning.

“We don’t have the means to get everyone into business,” Manin told AFP.

Nine members of the men’s team, including two-time defending world champion Julian Alaphilippe, travel on business while the rest of the team, which includes seven women’s, men’s and women’s racers in junior events and the support staff, are going economic.

Manin also didn’t make the 20-hour trip to Wollongong to save money.

“Some countries, like Ireland, have decided not to participate in the World Championships,” he said. “We asked ourselves if we should participate in all categories, especially juniors. We did it.

“But we don’t have the means to get everyone into the business.

“As for the men, we’ve been world champions for the past two years. We’re really going there to win, while we’re more of a pagan in the women’s competition.

“If we had a mountain bike world championship in Australia with the same economic choice to make, we would put the two girls in the business and the boys in the business,” he said. , referring to four-time cross country world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and European champion Loana Lecomte.

Team director Thomas Voeckler, who travels frugally, told AFP: “I’m focused on the sport and I have no energy to lose as long as the French team’s drivers are proud to wear colour. flags and colors.”