He loves cycling, the bike is one of the essential pillars of his summer training. At the Olympic Games in Italy, he surprised the legendary Italian Marco Pantani with a fashion accessory, an earring. Now Jacquelin will experience for himself what it’s like to race in the professional peloton.
“This project has been brewing in me for some time. I have always ridden a bike, either in my youth or as part of physical training, but from now on every day will be a new challenge,” said the elite biathlete, saying that he is not quitting his main sport. “The Winter Olympics in France remain my goal, but now I feel a strong desire to try something new,” explained the Grenoble native.
He is currently resting after a demanding season, but from May 1 his contract with the French team, with which he has been in long-term contact, will run. “I have a six-month contract as a trainee, although everything is not finalized yet,” Jacquelin told L’Équipe. “I intend to give it one hundred percent without compromise. I am confident that the training methods, nutrition monitoring, equipment and challenging environment that the team offers will allow me to progress and reach the next level,” he believes.
It cannot be expected that Jacquelin would immediately show up at the biggest races of the World Tour category. A stint in the Decathlon continental development team awaits him. “Although he is a top athlete used to heavy loads, he will have to adapt to the long-lasting performances that are typical of cycling,” guesses Guillaume Bonnafond, head of the NextGen team.
The star biathlete, who won gold in the relay and bronze in the fighter at the Olympics this year and has two silver medals from Beijing in his collection, will also act as a mentor to young hopefuls. “His physical qualities and champion mentality will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to all our riders,” said Bonnafond.
The arrival of athletes from other fields into professional cycling is not entirely unusual. For example, former ski jumper Primož Roglič is a four-time winner of the Spanish Vuelta and the Olympic time trial champion from Tokyo 2021. Last year, successful motorcyclist Aleix Espargaró also tried racing among the elite.
