"I'm not sure how to resume the current season in September"

LTheir sports and goals differ, but not their concerns, with a lifestyle based on physical activity and a calendar programmed for months. Three top-level French athletes tell each week World their confinement: the judokate Madeleine Malonga, the cyclist Romain Bardet and the rugby player Antoine Dupont. Fifth episode of their notebooks, to be followed until the lifting of this sanitary measure against the epidemic due to the coronavirus.

Previous episodes

Romain Bardet: "Beyond June, I don't see myself preparing the Tour de France at home"

Romain Bardet, in 2015 on the Tour de France. STEFANO RELLANDINI / REUTERS

ROMAIN BARDET, 29 YEARS OLD, RIDER OF THE AG2R-LA MONDIALE TEAM, FINISHED TWICE ON THE PODIUM OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE.

I followed the Prime Minister’s speech Tuesday afternoon. For the resumption of road training, we will be dependent on the health situation and travel restrictions between departments but I am rather optimistic: in Auvergne, and in particular in Cantal, we are quite spared. And on my training routes, I don't cross more than ten cars per trip.

Until June, I can fully train within the confines of my department. Later, in view of the Tour de France, I would need to do an internship with training partners, that we isolate at altitude. I do not see myself preparing for the Tour de France in my corner, at home, in particular because I will need to find a collective dynamic and assistance – massages, in particular – in my training.

I did not interpret the Prime Minister's statement as a bad signal for the Tour de France (scheduled to depart on August 29). We know the greatness of the Tour and it's in three months. Until then, not to mention a free pass, there may be the possibility of accommodation; it does not definitively condemn the event. But we are all awaiting further details.

With a Tour in September, we have a lot of time ahead of us. If there are winners and losers from this confinement, from a purely sporting point of view, it will be played only on the psychological management of the period, and not according to the sessions of home trainer.

We made the choice not to put pressure on the quantities. I have never exceeded three hours of home trainer in a day and it seems to be the end of the world. I see many runners replicating regular sessions on their home trainer, Christopher Froome said to work 30 hour weeks (in an interview with The Team). Three months away from competitions, if it is not to free myself from the envy that I have stored, I do not see the point. I know I can't compensate.

Everyone has their own way of working, but that would have been counterproductive for me. The competitions are not imminent, there is no need to torture your mind. On May 12, we will put things in place to become competitive again. And psychologically, I took this period from the best side. This routine at home is very pleasant for me, it is very precious family time. I took advantage of each day, while avoiding "de-training".

Madeleine Malonga: "May 11, we will not resume our lives as before"

MADELEINE MALONGA, 26 YEARS OLD, IS A WORLD JUDO CHAMPION IN THE 78 KG CATEGORY.

Last week, there were reports from the sports ministry that high performance sport could gradually resume training from May 11. In the process, the head of the French women's team, Larbi Benboudaoud sent us an e-mail to notify us of a meeting Thursday, April 30 to discuss this issue.

I'm hanging on to that. We hope to have a little more visibility that day. I still have some hope of being able to resume, even if everything remains quite uncertain. This may be complicated for judo which is a contact sport ++.

I’ve heard that there is still uncertainty about whether or not to reopen the Insep (National Institute for Sport, Expertise and Performance). We should be tested often, at least twice a week. It involves costs, and I don't know how we can manage that.

Honestly, I'm a little scared of the second wave. This is normal, because we talk about it every day. We will have to be very vigilant. Of course, we will not resume our lives as before May 11. I know that our federation will not put us in delicate situations. If we resume, it's that everything will be OK. I trust because we are struggling for us.

I am not so much the debates on the resumption of other sports and in particular of football. There are real financial issues for them. This is not the case for judo. We are talking about big rates (laughs). I think health and life are more important than the financier. In any case, I hope that they too will take all the necessary precautions.

Otherwise, with this confinement that lasts, I practice a little more than normal viewing. This is what allows you to repeat a movement in your head so that it is perfect. Right now, I'm working on the gesture of going to get the opponent's kimono. I focus on a focus point. I’m also viewing one of my favorite attacks, Uchi-Mata (mowing or throwing inside the thigh). I focus particularly on the crucial moment when I come to crash into my opponent, the issue lies in how quickly the feet are put in place.

Finally, thanks to my friend, my teammate, I animated my first online sports session on my Instagram. It was nice and people liked it. It’s perfect for brainstorming.

Antoine Dupont: "Unless the calendar is completely changed …"

ANTOINE DUPONT, 23 YEARS OLD, HALF OF THE BLUE MÉLÉE, IS CHAMPION OF FRANCE OF RUGBY IN TITLE WITH THE STADIUM TOULOUSAIN.

The Toulouse scrum half in good company.
The Toulouse scrum half in good company.

Out of the corner of my eye, I followed yesterday's announcements. To tell the truth, when Edouard Philippe says that the current season will not be able to resume before September, I am not very surprised. That was what was looming and what seemed normal to me.

From tomorrow, some players from our club will have a meeting by videoconference with the members of the staff to consider the strategy to adopt, especially for training after the deconfinement.

If the season ends now (which the National Rugby League has not yet formally acted on), without a final phase, it will be difficult to determine a champion. With another concern, probably even bigger: which teams will qualify for the next European Cup?

Freezing the results of the current season could harm my club (7e of the Top 14, and therefore potentially forced to pass through dams). While taking into account the previous season could hurt Bordeaux and Lyon… Eight qualified clubs, this would be probably the best alternative!

I don't really see how we could resume the current season in September either. Or else, the next one should be canceled. Unless you completely change the calendar and start this next season next January, which would be a revolution for French rugby.

Ireland’s former hooker Rory Best says news is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to align the calendars of the two hemispheres. Even if I don't have a specific opinion, I think it would still be a solution to study.

Usually, the French team goes on tour in the southern hemisphere in June when our players are tired and at the end of the season. Then the reverse in November. Everyone groans after these overloaded calendars.

Before resuming training, logic would in any case require players to be tested to see if they have coronavirus or not. But I would also find it logical that we players should not be given priority over other trades. Our sector is that of entertainment. I haven't discussed this with my mom yet (psychiatric nurse).

The period is likely to be long. How to plan until September? We know a historic moment: it is up to us to adapt.

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