When the new season of the French Grand Prix launches in just over thirty days, a simple question will be posed. Can anybody dethrone Poissy Triathlon?
The defending men’s and women’s champions, Poissy have held a near-vice grip on the series, particularly over the past decade. Last season, though, showed that the gap has thinned. After all, a victory margin of 10 points can be over-turned.
Ahead of the season, we will be previewing each team, starting today with the first eight men’s teams.
Poissy Triathlon
2022 position: 1st
Star names: Dorian Coninx (FRA), Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR), Tom Richard (FRA)
The ideal place to launch is with the defending champions.
Last year, Poissy got off to the best possible start with Abdelmoula winning the opening race in Fréjus. That fast start set them up to control the series. When Metz looked like they would challenge after their home round in Metz itself, Poissy shut the door in the fourth round by taking the most points in the team race.
At those last two rounds in Quiberon and Saint-Jean-des-Monts, Dorian Coninx and Barclay Izzard were essential parts of the team, logging top-9 finishes at both events. With a deeper roster, Poissy can be sure of at least one athlete in the top-8 at virtually every race.
Perhaps the real strength of the team lies in its composition. Alongside Coninx and Tom Richard, Poissy has renowned swimmers Aurelien Raphael and Anthony Pujades to call upon. With that combination, they have perhaps more firepower in the swim than any team. In any given front pack or breakaway, they should put at least one man into the group and will be a constant presence in the race.
They have a balanced team with race winners and a number of invaluable contributors. If they get everything right this season, another title could beckon.
Triathlon Club de Liévin
2022 position: 2nd
Star names: Matthew Hauser (AUS), Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP), David Castro Fajardo (ESP)
A slow start at the opening race in Fréjus cost Liévin last year’s title. While Poissy ran away to an opening round win, Liévin languished in 9th place. The 11 points they ceded to Poissy that day would go on to exceed the ultimate margin of Poissy’s end of season victory.
At the second race in Dunkerque, Liévin rallied, sweeping the podium through Matthew Hauser, Hayden Wilde and Brandon Copeland. If Wilde is back on the roster this season they will probably be the strongest team on paper.
With Jelle Geens also subbing in for Liévin last season and winning in Quiberon, the team have enjoyed success by bringing in international stars to strengthen their numbers.
Indeed, in 2022, Raphael Montoya was the only Frenchman to score for Liévin across the season.
With the Spanish duo of David Castro Fajardo and Antonio Serrat Seaone also available, it is possible to see Liévin’s stars carry it to victory.
However, the reliance on international athletes leaves it vulnerable. Round one in Fréjus this season clashes with WTCS Yokohama. Whereas Poissy will be able to navigate that with its French depth, Liévin could be in trouble. As a result, we could be looking at another season in which they are forced to play catch up.
Les Sables Vendée Triathlon
2022 position: 3rd
Star names: Pierre Le Corre (FRA), Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE), Gabor Faldum (HUN)
Last season’s 3rd place team have a number of talents to call upon, led foremost by home favourite Pierre Le Corre.
Another Frenchman, Simon Viain, played a big role in last year’s success as he nabbed a number of vital points. Of the leading teams, Les Sables Vendée seem to have the best balance between domestic and international talent. Alongside the likes of Le Corre and Viain, Luke Willian, Gabor Faldum and Rostislav Pevtsov all chipped in with important points.
Moreover the team combines experience with youth well. Le Corre, Faldum and Pevtsov have been around the block and provide a strong base for the team. There are few race situations that will catch them out or throw them off guard.
Across the five races last year, the team finished 3rd three times and 5th twice, highlighting remarkable consistency.
Compared to Poissy and Liévin, Les Sables Vendée maybe lack a star name that could win them a race or get onto the individual podium. Willian could mature into that athlete but it remains a comparative weak spot. It is therefore hard to see them challenging for the overall title but another series top-3 could be on the cards.
Saint-Jean-de-Monts-Vendée Triathlon
2022 position: 4th
Star names: Leo Bergere (FRA), Mario Mola (ESP), Joao Pereira (POR)
One team that will have all of the others mentioned so far looking over their shoulders will be Saint-Jean-de-Monts-Vendée.
A team DNF in Dunkerque last year ultimately ended any hopes of challenging for the championship. At the series finale, though, they were the best team as Mario Mola and Leo Bergere finished in the top-4.
Bergere also won a silver medal in Quiberon. As the reigning world champion, he will be the figurehead of the team. The more he races, the likelier it will be that the team wins; it’s a fairly simple equation.
Like Liévin, Saint-Jean-de-Monts can call upon a number of international stars like Mola, Joao Pereira, Sylvain Fridelance, Seth Rider and Jonas Schomburg. The man that will potentially be the most important piece of their puzzle this year, however, is a Frenchman.
Louis Vitiello scored at both Quiberon and Saint-Jean-de-Monts. Already this year, he has won a European Cup (in Melilla) and if he can bring that form to the Grand Prix, he could be a source of reliable points.
With Vitiello holding up a steady stream of points, Bergere contributing as often as possible and then a flow of revolving international talent providing the third scorer, Saint-Jean-de-Monts have every shot at winning the title.
Metz Triathlon
2022 position: 5th
Star names: Nathan Guerbeur (FRA), Noah Servais (BEL), Valentin Morlec (FRA)
In December, it looked like Metz were in trouble. A double blow of a judicial investigation into the club and internal fighting saw resignations and a number of athletes released from the team. For now at least, it seems the dust has settled and the team can focus on the season ahead.
Last year, Metz were the early challengers to Poissy and even took the series lead after the third round. Nathan Guerbeur delivered on a regular basis for the team, as did Noah Servais and Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger.
Ahead of the new season, Metz have a new weapon to unleash. Thomas Hansmaennel is young and raw but as the reigning Junior world champion he is one of the biggest upcoming talents around. With minimal WTCS racing on his radar at this point in his career, there is an argument to be made in favour of letting Hansmaennel rip upon the series.
At his age, he won’t offer a great deal of consistency. However, he has already shown himself to be a great racer (not least with his European Junior Cup win in Quarteira). Given five racecs in the series, he has the talent already to be a source of three or even four top-10 finishes.
On the surface, Metz do not look like a team likely to compete for the title. They are strong across the board, though, and a wildcard like Hansmaennel could the key to nudging them back up the rankings.
Triathl’Aix
2022 position: 6th
Star names: Boris Pierre (FRA), Benjamin Zorgnotti (FRA), Nathan Grayel (FRA)
Triathl’Aix are built around a strong French core. Nathan Grayel and Benjamin Zorgnotti were regular scorers for them last season and will be hoping to repeat that this time round.
Moreover Felix Forissier was another valuable athlete to the team.
The potential star of the show, though, looks like it could be Boris Pierre. Pierre was one of the most promising French Juniors to come through in the past few years and is now a final year U23 athlete.
This year, Triathl’Aix will need him to step up. He has shown the ability to do so; last year he won a silver medal at the European Cup in Coimbra, coming close to out-gunning Joao Pereira on the run.
At the same time, Pierre could have a strong season and that might not be enough to push the team into the top-5. The teams ahead are a bit stronger on paper and gain a little more from internationals.
Triathl’Aix will likely hope for a fast start in the opening round in Fréjus next month to set them en route for another good season.
Triathlon Toulouse Métropole
2022 position: 7th
Star names: Bence Bicsak (HUN), Gergely Kiss (HUN), Alessio Crociani (ITA)
With Nathan Lessmann playing an important role last season, Toulouse balanced French success with international contributions.
Lessmann brought home three top-20 finishes as well as a top-10 and was by far Toulouse’s most reliable athlete. The team will be banking on him offering more of the same – or potentially even better finishes – this season. Behind Lessmann, his supporting cast of French athletes did not quite perform to his level last year so the team will hope that one of them can step up.
Loris Lala and Sebastian Pascal could be the men to add points this year.
In addition, Toulouse will need a little more impact from its international athletes. Gergely Kiss arrives as the silver medallist from the World U23 Championships while Bence Bicsak is a proven performer at the WTCS level.
Alessio Crociani could also be a useful part of the team if Toulouse can get him on enough start lines. With Italian Olympic qualification up for grabs, he might only race sparingly.
A realistic best case scenario could be that Lessmann and Kiss carry the team this year and that another man provides the all-important third score at each event. If that transpires, Toulouse can be optimistic for a successful campaign.
Montluçon Triathlon
2022 position: 8th
Star names: Felix Duchampt (ROU), Gianluca Pozzatti (ITA), Michele Sarzilla (ITA)
Montluçon are a great example of how competitive the Grand Prix is. Even with a host of international talents, they still only managed to finish 8th in 2022.
One of the big hopes for them will be to mobilise their Spanish armada. With Jordi Garcia, Alberto Gonzalez Garcia and Genis Grau on their books, they have a powerful cohort of Spanish athletes. As a World Cup winner, Grau might just be the most important of those. If he brings his best form, Grau could be the star man Montluçon need.
At last year’s opener in Fréjus, the Spanish trio delivered big time and helped get Montluçon’s season started on a bright note.
Jannick Schaufler, Gianluca Pozzatti and Michele Sarzilla are equally able to provide big points at any given race. The trick will be to actually get them onto start lines as often as possible.
Felix Duchampt has been a reliable performer for the team but otherwise Montluçon have sometimes found themselves spread a bit thin. In Dunkerque last year, they found themselves down in 12th overall, their only venture outside the top-10.
With a number of athletes capable of WTCS top-10 finishes, Montluçon will be hoping to swipe more Grand Prix top-10 finishes. If they can do that, a top-6 finish overall could be on the cards. However, if they don’t, then there are plenty of teams behind capable of taking their top-8 slot.
Part 2 of the men’s preview will be available tomorrow.
