This Saturday, I lined up for the first European round of the World Cup season in Nove Mesto. Over the years, this event has become one of the highlights of the international calendar, with a unique atmosphere, an impressive crowd, and a course that is both demanding and spectacular.

Nove Mesto is a track I really enjoy, but one that has never truly worked in my favour so far. In three previous races on this course, I have never managed to fully express my potential. I therefore approached this trip with plenty of motivation, but also with a realistic mindset.

The preparation for this round was far from ideal. The previous weekend, a minor virus kept me off the bike for three days. Combined with my difficult history on this circuit, it forced me to keep my expectations in perspective. Still, the positive momentum within the team and the desire to perform well were definitely there. On the positive side, the conditions stayed dry throughout the week, which allowed us to work properly on an already demanding course.

With my current UCI ranking, I started with bib number 103. The goal was clear: try to move up progressively through a very dense field.

The start was tense, with everyone trying to squeeze through and gain positions. I had chosen a cautious approach, knowing that the first sections would likely be affected by traffic and bottlenecks. My plan was to really launch my race from the second lap onwards, once the field had stretched out a little.

After a controlled opening, I began to get going during the second lap and gradually found my rhythm in the third. That was when I caught Félix Sprenger, who had suffered a puncture. I took his wheel and we started to move back up through the field. We gained five or six positions and gradually closed in on the group fighting around 65th place. At that point, I was 78th, only about 15 seconds behind that group.

Unfortunately, in the enthusiasm of the chase, I underestimated how much my body temperature was rising. I started to overheat badly and lost around 1’30” between the end of the third lap and the beginning of the fourth, which broke my momentum.

After cooling down in the feed zone, I managed to refocus in the fifth lap. The sensations partly came back, and I was able to regain contact with the group ahead of me. Unfortunately, the 80% rule ended my race shortly after. I was pulled from the course and classified 86th.

Of course, this is not the result I came to Nove Mesto for. But considering the circumstances — being sick the week before, my difficult history on this course, starting so far back, and the heat — I prefer to keep things in perspective. There were still positives to take away: a real phase of progression, some encouraging rhythm at times, and valuable lessons for the next races.

The World Cup is demanding, and sometimes brutal, but it remains the best place to learn and improve. I leave Nove Mesto frustrated, but also determined to keep working and fully focused on the next goals.

Thanks to my partners, the team, and everyone who continues to support me.