2024 French Cup | Rounds 1 & 2 Besancon
23rd – 24th March
Written by Damien Ethalon
Photo’s by Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE (Click the photos to see the full album)
2024 French Cup | Rounds 1 & 2 Besancon
23rd – 24th March
Written by Damien Ethalon
Photo’s by Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE (Click the photos to see the full album)
After two UCI BMX Racing World Cup rounds on the other side of the world and the UEC Euro Cup opening in Sarrians a few weeks ago, it was time for the 2024 French Cup to begin! Besancon was the track designated to host rounds 1 and 2 for this year. The track remained exactly the same as during the UEC European Championship last July, but this time there was no oppressive heat, instead we faced cold weather, some rain and a lot of wind. The decision was made to stay on the challenge second straight on Saturday due to the wind.
A few big names didn’t make it on the men’s side … Joris Daudet and Sylvain Andre were still not 100%, while Romain Mahieu and Eddy Clerte decided to stay at home and prepare for what’s next. Christelle Boivin, the 2023 French Cup winner was also injured and couldn’t line up to defend her title. Despite these notable absentee’s, we had a pretty stacked field with 93 riders in the Elite Men/U23 combined class, and 35 on the women’s side, with a lot of different countries in the mix.
The women category was all about Axelle Etienne who dominated the weekend, winning both days. Mariane Beltrando had a very satisfying weekend with a 2nd and a 3rd finish. Three other girls made the final on both days, the youngsters Lea Brindjonc and Marie Favrel, who shared 4th and 5th ranks. The reigning French champion, Charlotte Devolder, showed some good speed but was unlucky in both mains, finishing 6th and 7th. Molly Simpson, the Canadian machine, was there on Sunday for her first ever French Cup race, and needless to say she was really impressive. She finished 2nd behind Axelle. Zoé Hapka got her first podium of the season with a 3rd on Saturday. Manon Valentino is still in the mix and showed it with a 6th on Sunday. Celia Bonnet crashed in the first turn on Saturday and ended up 7th. Last place in the main was for Camille Maire who took a big fall on the first jump. She chose not to line up on Sunday. It opened the door to Elisa Lance who made the main at the highest national level for the first time ever, and probably not the last!
Elite Women Results Saturday:
1: Axelle ETIENNE
2: Mariane BELTRANDO
3: Zoe HAPKA
4: Lea BRINDJONC
5: Marie FAVREL
6: Charlotte DEVOLDER
7: Celia BONNET
8: Camille MAIRE
Elite Women Results Sunday:
1: Axelle ETIENNE
2: Molly SIMPSON
3: Mariane BELTRANDO
4: Marie FAVREL
5: Lea BRINDJONC
6: Manon VALENTINO
7: Charlotte DEVOLDER
8: Elisa LANCE
Women’s Overall Ranking After 2 Rounds:
1: Axelle ETIENNE 126pts
2: Mariane BELTRANDO 109pts
3: Lea BRINDJONC 93pts
4: Marie FAVREL 93pts
5: Zoe HAPKA 83pts
The Elite Men’s category was all about Jeremy Rencurel! The man was unbeatable, with the fastest lap and hill times and of course the win on both days! Very impressive. As a proof of how international the French Cup is, five countries were represented in the main event on Saturday. France got four riders with Jeremy for the win, Corentin Dubois the reigning National Champion in 3rd, Louison Rousseau in 5th, and the current World number 2, Arthur Pilard in 8th. Switzerland landed on the box with Loris Aeberhard in 2nd. Michael Bias, the local Kiwi, put himself in 4th, while Pietro Bertagnoli, from Italy, and Wannes Magdelijns, from Belgium, finished 6th and 7th. It definitely looked like a Euro Cup round!
The Sunday podium felt like the ones we’ve seen on the UCI World Cup circuit a few weeks before. Indeed, behind Jeremy was Oliver Moran, the U23 UCI World Cup leader from Australia, and Michael Bias who got one place better than the previous day! Wannes Magdelijns was also in the main again, finishing with a 5th. A Very consistent weekend for the Belgium National Champion! Four other Frenchie’s made the main on Sunday, Alexis Pieczanowsky got 4th and Theo Thouin, Macleo Meynier and Romain Mayet finished 6th, 7th and 8th.
Elite Men Results Saturday:
1: Jeremy RENCUREL
2: Loris AEBERHARD
3: Corentin DUBOIS
4: Michael BIAS
5: Louison ROUSSEAU
6: Pietro BERTAGNOLI
7: Wannes MAGDELIJNS
8: Arthur PILARD
Elite Men Results Sunday:
1: Jérémy RENCUREL
2: Oliver MORAN
3: Michael BIAS
4: Alexis PIECZANOWSKY
5: Wannes MAGDELIJNS
6: Theo THOUIN
7: Macleo MEYNIER
8: Romain MAYET
Men’s Overall Ranking After 2 Rounds:
1: Jeremy RENCUREL 142pts
2: Michael BIAS 116pts
3: Wannes MAGDELIJNS 102pts
4: Alexis PIECZANOWSKY 95pts
5: Macleo MEYNIER 88pts
The next two rounds of the 2024 French Cup will roll into Compiegne, and a brand new Supercross track on April 20th and 21st. We can’t wait!
