The activities of the French Cycling Federation have sparked a debate in France.
Julian Alaphilippe got to enjoy traveling in business class. PDO
The World Road Cycling Championships will be held in Wollongong, Australia, from September 18 to 25. in the days of.
The French national team’s trip to the southern hemisphere got an unequal stamp, as the men got tickets in business class, but the representatives of the women’s national team sat in the crowd.
The technical director of the national team, Christophe Manin, stated that the decision, which aroused criticism, was made purely for money and chances of success.
– We can’t afford to put everyone in business class, Manin said according to news agency AFP.
– In the men’s category, we have been world champions in the last two years. We go there to win, while we are more of a dark horse on the women’s side.
The nine-rider men’s team includes, among others, a two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
Big team
Manin himself did not travel to the competition venue at all. He points out that, for example, in Ireland, the national team’s trip to Australia was found to be so expensive that they missed the games entirely.
The national team boss says that the cost-saving measures in travel expenses that affected part of the team made it possible for France to get more competitors to the World Cup.
– We asked ourselves if we should be included in all categories, especially juniors. We did that.
Source: BBC