Interview with Romain Bresson, manager of the Elite teams of the Montpellier Triathlon

In a few words can you introduce yourself? (seniority at the club, if you still practice triathlon…)

Romain, 36 years old, at the club since the season 2003-2004, employee since 2008 (MNS) and 2010 (Triathlon Coach). Former triathlete, practicing more than occasionally in recent seasons, unfortunately due to lack of time.

Can you briefly introduce the club , how it works, the activities offered, the number of members, competitions organized by the club, etc.?

The Montpellier Triathlon (MAT), is a club which will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary (created in 1984), which brings together around 1000 members (with several sectors of activity: Swimming School, AquaGym, AquaRando, Triathlon School, Triathlon Club) including 250 triathletes of all ages and all levels, which has 2 M/F teams in the 1st Division in 2022.

The MAT is also the organization of sporting events with:

– the Urban Trail of MONTPELLIER on 15.01.2022,

– MONTPELLIER Aquathlon on 26.03.2022

– SALAGOU Triathlon, End of May, Beginning of June 2022.

Now let's talk in more detail about the elite MAT teams you are in charge of.

In 2022, we will have our 2 M/F teams in the 1st division, it's a big comeback for us because it hadn't happened for 15 years!

Can you take stock of the season that has just taken place Notable results and performances (both by team but also on an individual level?)

On the side of the celebrations, the 2021 season was marked by the title of FRANCE D2 champion of our Women's team. The BRONZE medal of Jules DUMAS at the world CROSS TRIATHLON Hope after his National Title still in Hope. The 7th place of Claudia KELSALL in the Europes of DUATHLON and her participation in the Worlds. The National Title in SwimRun for Audrey DUCORNET and Eugénie PLANE.

Also to remember, the solid performances of Yanis SEGUIN on the European Cup (2 TOP 10 and 1 TOP 15) for his 1st International season.

The 8thplace of our Men's team in the D1 championship also deserves a good note.

Finally, closing the season with a podium in the Coupe de FRANCE (CLM M/F event) was a great satisfaction because this event shows the quality of our men AND women squads among all the French clubs.

On the other hand, this season was also marked by the long injuries of our 2 Men's Leaders (Pierre LE CORRE and Simon VIAIN) who were absent for ⅔ of the season.

How is training going in this winter period for athletes?

The winter period is for the athletes of the favorable workforce to carry out a large volume of training in the 3 disciplines, without pressure because the first deadlines will not arrive until mid-May.

It's also an opportunity to test yourself on other disciplines (Cross, 5-10K, CycloCross,…) to break the monotony of training.

How does the next season look, what are your main goals and when will it really start?

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For the moment, training is going well, everyone is finding their bearings, the first bibs will soon be hung on various preparation races.

Season D1, 2022 will start on MAY 14 in FRÉJUS, to go to DUNKERQUE on JUNE 18, then METZ on JULY 3, the next stage will be in QUIBERON on SEPTEMBER 3 and the Final will take place on SEPTEMBER 10 in ST JEAN DE MONT. The Coupe de FRANCE will take place on 15 OCTOBER in TOULON.

6 races from MAY to OCTOBER, everywhere in FRANCE where our teams will be keen to shine!

We will look for everything first to defend our 3rd place acquired in 2021 on the Coupe de FRANCE (M / F) then on the side of the D1 championship, our Men's team will try to hang a TOP 10 and our Women's team will play it safe by aiming to maintain it for this return among the elite!

Can you tell us a bit about the composition of the elite women's and men's teams for the next season and in particular for the GP?

A few changes for this 2022 season, but our base remains in Montpellier again this year.

Our female squad will be made up of our 6 daughters who have reached the elite (Cassandre CELLIER, Fiona CORNET, Audrey DUCORNET, Camille DUVAUCHEL, Claudia KELSALL, Eugenie Plane) and will be added Anouk STERKER (Ex-AIX, Junior training at the Pôle FRANCE in MONTPELLIER ) as well as Méline PELLICER (Ex-MARSEILLE, who will bring us her experience of the Championship with its 4 seasons in D1).

As for our Men's team, Yanis SEGUIN (Collectif National Espoir) will be our Leader, he will be accompanied by our young recruit Baptiste MASSOT (Ex-Montluçon, Collectif National Espoir also who trains at the Pôle FRANCE in MONTPELLIER), Jules DUMAS, Mateo FUCHO, Oscar HOBSON (Ex-Bordeaux), Teo KATGELY, Cenzino LEBOT, Thomas SONNERY COTTET and our Kiwi, Kyle SMITH (who now lives in GIRONA).

We will also integrate our promising young triathletes into the squad during the season to introduce them to the D1 championship.

Can we follow the news of the club and elite teams somewhere as well as its results?

Club news is to be followed on the social networks of the club (Fb, Insta, YouTube,…), for the elite the federal site gathers the results of the national races (https://www.fftri.com/competitions/competitions-nationales/triathlon/grand -prix-de-triathlon-clubs-d1/ ) and we are lucky that many 1st Division races are broadcast on La Chaîne l'Equipe during the season.

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What do you want to say to newsletter readers to make them want to join your club?

As said above, the MAT is a 'big' Triathlon club which offers everyone, adults and children, the opportunity to discover the triple effort with supervised training every day of the week.

Come and try!