Today we are continuing our preview of the men’s teams in the upcoming French Grand Prix. You can read Part 1 of the men’s preview here.
In this section, there are a number of teams hoping to make the jump into the top half of the standings. On the other hand, there will be some teams looking over their shoulder as the threat of relegation looms perilously.
Montpellier Triathlon
2022 position: 9th
Star names: Yanis Seguin (FRA), Baptiste Massot (FRA), Thomas Sonnery-Cottet (USA)
Had it not been for the fourth round, last season would have been a resounding success for Montpellier.
Finishes of 6th, 7th and 8th in the first three rounds had left the team safe in the top-6 of the standings. However, even a 5th place in the final round could not mitigate the 18th place in Quiberon.
In many ways, that result was harsh in terms of its overall impact on Montpellier’s season. Led by Yanis Seguin and Bapstise Massot, the team had admirably punched above its weight, showing off a crop of young, talented French athletes that were rubbing shoulders with the best in the world.
Theophile Canet and Jeremy Quindos provided ample support to keep Montpellier on the rise.
All the evidence is there to suggest that the team has the ability to break into the top-8, maybe even the top-6. The vital factor will be ensuring they don’t have another wobble like Quiberon.
With the team at hand, Montpellier can be quietly confident of an exciting 2023.
Valence Triathlon
2022 position: 10th
Star names: Alex Yee (GBR), Jake Birtwhistle (AUS), Adrien Briffod (SUI)
In stark contrast to Montpellier, we then come to Valence. Whereas Montpellier is built around a crux of young French talent, Valence is all about its international stars.
Alex Yee won the final race of the season for the team in 2022. He led a British contingent of Connor Bentley, Hugo Milner and Jack Willis, each of whom could provide at least one big race this season.
Alongside the Brits, Valence had the Norwegian trio of Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden and Vetle Bergsvik Thorn on their books in 2022. Realistically, Blummenfelt and Iden won’t race although that will not be a keenly felt loss over the Sprint distance. Thorn, though, is on the rise and could potentially be counted upon to step up.
Likewise Csongor Lehmann has the ability to make multiple top-10s if they can get him into races.
On the youth front, Bradley Course, the young Australian, would be an intriguing athlete to follow. Much as Thomas Hansmaennel could be a valuable Junior for Metz, Course could be an important factor for Valence. Similarly, Callum Mcclusky has started his 2023 in a great run of form. If both Australians can fire, Valence will have a lot of firepower to call upon.
The real weakness of the team, relatively speaking, is in its French athletes; there are some promising men available but none at the level of the team’s internationals. By way of example, when several of the internationals were not available in Dunkerque last year, the team fell to 14th.
With the overall talent at their disposal, Valence should be contending for the overall win. The key is actually putting the athletes on the start line.
M.S.A. Triathlon
2022 position: 11th
Star names: Mitch Kolkman (NED), Maxime Bonvalet (FRA), Clement Dubut Hermal (FRA)
M.S.A. have a lot of young athletes on their roster and last year were carried by Bonvalet, Dubut Hermal and Theo Jobbin.
The young Dutchman Mitch Kolkman should offer some depth to the team.
M.S.A. enjoyed a best finish of 9th in Dunkerque which represented their only foray into the top-10. To break into the top-10 overall this year will therefore be quite a challenge. Realistically, they will need a fast start to the season, ideally exploiting any absences in the opening round at Fréjus caused by the concomitant WTCS Yokohama.
Once the season gets to the business end in September, a lot of the big international names will be available for other teams which will deepen the races and squeeze M.S.A. down the rankings. If they are to improve on last season’s finish, then, the opening two rounds could be critical.
Sainte-Geneviève Triathlon
2022 position: 12th
Star names: Vincent Luis (FRA), Guillaume Hay (FRA), Tom Lerno (FRA)
There is only one question that matters for Sainte-Geneviève: will Vincent Luis be back on the start line?
He has historically been a vital part of the team and if he is able to race this season then he will likely carry Sainte-Geneviève back into the top-10. However, injury, heart problems and scheduling clashes have been a problem over the last couple of years.
Without Luis, Sainte-Geneviève will likely rely on French youngers Guillaume Hay and Tom Lerno to step up. Arnaud Des Boscs is another athlete that proved a consistent team member in 2022. That trio finished 6th together in Dunkerque last year, demonstrating that the potential exists for a top-10.
Furthermore Kye Wylde bolsters what otherwise would be a thin roster.
With Luis, though, the team would have a centrepiece to hold everything together. If he could lead what is otherwise quite a young set-up, Sainte-Geneviève could upset quite a few teams ranked ahead of them.
Evreux AC Triathlon
2022 position: 13th
Star names: Martin Laurent (FRA), Robin Moussel (FRA), Thomas Laurent (FRA)
Evreux owed their 13th place overall last year in large part to their 6th place finish at Quiberon. Beyond that event, they finished 17th, 15th, 13th and 13th at the remaining races.
With Martin Laurent and Thomas Laurent, they have a solid foundation of point scorers to carry the team’s hopes. Moreover Lilian Pierre was a consistent part of the team last year.
With an emphasis on domestic talent in their team, a good season for Evreux will be to tread water and maybe make up one or two places in the standings. A top-10 is possibly beyond them this year, but with a slice of luck anything could happen.
Vitrolles Triathlon
2022 position: 14th
Star names: Alexis Kardes (FRA), Nicolo Strada (ITA), Jonathan Wayaffe (BEL)
With Nicolo Strada, Kurt Wesley and Rico Bogen to call upon, Vitrolles have a solid base of international performers to call upon. Furthermore they have a solid batch of French athletes led by Alexis Kardes.
On paper, then, last season’s 14th was not quite where they could have been. The main problem was that they finished last in the opening round. Although they improved across the season, and even broke into the top-10 in Quiberon, that flat start undermined the rest of their campaign.
With Strada not on the start list for WTCS Yokohama, Vitrolles will be hoping to utilise him in the season opener in Fréjus. Likewise if they can get Wesley and/or Bogen into the first round, they should insulate themselves against a potential repeat of last season’s slow start.
With a better start this time round, the team has the potential to rise through the rankings and gain two or three places.
Tri Val de Gray
2022 position: 15th
Star names: Baptiste Passemard (FRA), Amaury Dietrich (FRA), Aurelien Jem (FRA)
Finishes of 11th and 10th at last year’s opening two rounds hinted at a season of promise for Val de Gray. If they bring that form to this season, they will be completely fine.
However the team finished in the bottom four twice in 2022 and if they repeat that aspect then they could be in trouble.
Passemard, Dietrich and Jem make for a good spine to the team and the Val de Gray will hope they can get Johannes Vogel into races. With a crop of young French talent bubbling around the team, there is a chance that another young face steps up to share the point scoring burden.
However, their showing in 2022 indicates that they could be at risk of relegation this year. On paper, Val de Gray should be safe and a couple of big results will keep them clear. If they have any slip ups, though, they could slip into a dangerous position.
La Rochelle Triathlon
2022 position: Promoted from D2
Star names: Remi Delagarde (FRA), Vincent Migne (FRA), Valentin Rouvier (FRA)
La Rochelle were promoted from D2 last year after recording two wins and two 2nd place finishes. They arrive in D1 with a very cohesive team and their athletes can be trusted to step up at different races. If they are to survive this first season in the first division, they will need everyone on the roster to chip in.
In 2023, the goal of the team is to build experience and consolidate the team’s D1 status. Survival is essential and then in the coming seasons they can look to grow.
So long as none of La Rochelle’s key athletes get stage fright from mixing with world champions and WTCS stars, they have a great shot at establishing themselves in D1.
Watch out for Valentin Rouvier and Vincent Migne in particular. The duo could be key racers for La Rochelle this year.
Mach 3 Vienne-Condrieu Agglomération
2022 position: Promoted from D2
Star names: Thomas Rivet (FRA), Basile Fouchard (FRA), Simon Falbriard (FRA)
Mach 3 were the second team to be promoted last year. Like La Rochelle, they won two races in D2. They also achieved a 2nd place however a 7th in the opening round in Dunkerque put them behind La Rochelle overall.
Whereas La Rochelle are a little more spread across the team when it comes to points, Mach 3 has one athlete that is vital to their chances.
Thomas Rivet could be a star for them. In 2022, he won in Metz and earned three silver medals in D2.
If Rivet can make the step up to the first division, Mach 3 will almost certainly stay up. That is a lot of pressure on a young athlete’s shoulders, though, and the team will need others to step up.
With so many talented athletes and teams with competing ambitions, this year’s French Grand Prix could be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory.
