While his teammates finished 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively, in the men’s race, the Paris Olympic Test Event did not bring fortune to Vincent Luis.
The former world champion was making his first appearance back after suffering a stress reaction in his hip at the start of May. Having missed WTCS Yokohama and WTCS Cagliari, at which he could have earned selection for the Test Event, Luis was discretionarily added to the start list by the French federation during his recovery.
Prior to the race, he noted that he was not sure of his form and that he did not expect too much. However, things got off to a good start as he led the field out of the water. From there, he was part of the initial lead group on the bike. The field, though, came back together to create a pack of fifty-five men.
On the run, Luis would ultimately not finish.
The reason for his DNF has since become clear. After the race, Luis shared on Instagram that he suffered a torn soleus. As a result, Luis will likely be out of action for the foreseeable future. With only the WTCS Final in Pontevedra left to race at the WTCS level, Paris may prove to be Luis’ final race of 2023.
Luis has had a difficult run with injuries over the last few years. At WTCS Bermuda last November, he showed what he can do when fully fit as he took a superb victory. The frequency of his injuries, though, mean that such performances have been rarer than his heyday.
With a home Olympics to look forward to next year, Luis will attempt to put this latest setback behind him and stake his claim for French selection. Given the performances of his compatriots, it will be a tall order to make the team. Luis, though, will no doubt relish the challenge.
You can view his full post below.
