Chosen moment, singular emotion, he recounts a strong memory in Oisans.
Florian likes to share his passion, to transmit emotion with great simplicity. A sports fanatic with a big heart, in love with his mountains, who embodies Oisans in the most beautiful way with 3 medals in para-cycling at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. So, it was quite natural that we asked him to tell us about "his" Oisans, to evoke a strong memory, when at that moment, in that place, the magic happens...
Without hesitation, he tells the story of an autumn afternoon in 2014. Around noon, he sets off on the roads with his very first handbike accompanied by his little sister, Laetitia, who was 13 at the time. Florian loves riding in autumn, with few cars on the roads, bright colours and landscapes that change from one week to the next.
They roll towards Allemond, and take advantage of the long plain of Romanche to warm up. On the program for this beautiful November day, a climb never before attempted: the col du Sabot.
This small pass, at 2 meters all the same, is discreet next to its famous neighbors. Above Vaujany, it ends in a dead end and opens onto the passes of Glandon and Croix de Fer in the foreground, then on Mont Blanc in the background.
Florian and Laetitia know the rise of Vaujany ; not the easiest, irregular, with steep sections that should not be underestimated. Fortunately, the hamlets crossed pleasantly punctuate the effort.
Once they reach Le Collet, above the last hamlet, they stop to eat a bite while looking at the mountain pastures above them, where the small communal road winds. "From here, we don't realize that only half of the climb is behind us. "I didn't think this pass was so high," Florian comments in hindsight.
They set off again for the last section, across the mountain pastures, along the small tarmac road, between cow dung and gravel, for the last 700 metres of altitude difference. The soft autumn sun colours the landscapes, they are alone, immersed in the golden pastures.
And finally the pass… Just in time for the sunset in front of them, as it plunges into the valley’s notch. The last burst of light of the day, like a nod to this special moment between brother and sister, to this small victory of having reached a pass that wasn’t so easy after all.
"I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done "
During the descent, night catches up with them. The smells of autumn and the humidity end up anchoring this day in their memory. One of those moments that we remember, that we talk about again as a family and that, perhaps, gives rise to the desire to experience others, to be surprised again by the difficulty without giving up, to always go to the end.
Looking back, all the ingredients of a future medalist were there, on the small road of col du SabotA mountaineer passionate about sport, inspired by a wild territory, forged by a demanding relief, resistant to the harshness of a life in the mountains.
Smiling, approachable, with a mind as hard as granite, Florian has the character traits of the territory where he grew up; welcoming and tough at the same time.
Florian's next sporting event: Cervia, Italy, for his 2nd Ironman, this time with a time trial challenge... To be continued in September 2022.
AWARDS:
2 Ironmans curled, in Barcelona, Spain, in 2017 and Cervia, Italy, in 2018.
3 Olympic medals, one of each color at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Champion of France (CLM and CEL) from 2018 to 2021
2021 Para-cycling World Championship : 3rd CLM and 3rd CEL
2021 Paracycling World Cup : 2nd in the CLM
Themes
