Aubin Sparfel is about to contest his first World Championship. After a season marked by a final victory in the Coupe de France, a 7th place in the European Championship and a 10th place in the Benidorm World Cup (Spain), the member of the Cycle Golbéen and AG2R Citroën U19 Team hopes a Top 10 this Sunday in Hoogerheide (Netherlands). At the end of the Besançon World Cup, where he was not “in great shape”the Junior 1st year took stock with DirectBike.
DirectVelo: What feeling dominates after this World Cup in Besançon?
Aubin Sparfel: I got off to a good start but I wasn’t in great shape. At first I was in the top 15 but then throughout the race I got pushed up. Mentally it was tough. Finish in 29th place (see ranking), it’s not exceptional but I think that just after a course you can’t always be in good shape. We have done a lot of kilometers during the whole week in Spain, on a well worked out track. It’s like that, you can’t be at full speed all season.
What did you expect from this race one week before the World Cup?
This round of Besançon was not determined as an objective. But for confidence, it is not exceptional. I still think that for the World Cup, I will be in good shape. I hope so, anyway. Normally it should be fine. So far I’ve had a good season and I’ve been pretty consistent.
“IT’S LOOKING TO BE VERY HARD”
You remained on places of 11th and 10th in the World Cup…
The weekend before, at the World Cup in Benidorm for example, it was great. There were a lot of people. For a first in the World Cup there, it was nice. The circuit was very fast, not very technical and dry. It was warm and I liked it. I was able to attack in the leading group. I tried to do my best, especially by helping Léo (Bisiaux) but it’s difficult in cross country. It’s always a somewhat individual sport.
What would a successful World Championship look like?
I made Top 10 in the World Cup so the objective would be to make Top 10 in the World Cup too. I would like it and if I can try to do better I will. The circuit will be a bit punchy because Adrie Van der Poel, Mathieu’s father, designed it and added difficulty with the five bridges. I hope this course will suit me. It looks very hard and very rolling but at this time of year, there should be small parts of mud. It will be a great course for a great Championship. This week, I’m going to rest a little bit. It’s coming…