Bike
Richard Cunynghame meets downhill star Emmeline Ragot who talks about her ambitions for this season.
Emmeline Ragot
Age: 26 Nationality: French Hometown: Triac, Western France 2013 Team: Team Lapierre International Discipline: Downhill 2012 Series Finish: 2nd Career Highlights: '09 & '11 World Champ, ‘02 & ’03 Junior World Champ, 3 World Cup Wins.
As two times senior World Champion, Emmeline Ragot has stamped her authority on Women’s downhill, yet the World Cup Series has so far eluded her. 2012 saw her come closer than ever with a top three finish at every round and second overall. Her nemesis last year was Rachel Atherton, whom trumped her to first at every round but one. “I think I was a bit frustrated with last season. But you know, it’s the sport and when you are looking at it, it has been my best season ever for the World Cup series. Maybe I didn’t get that much luck, but one day, hopefully this season, the luck will come back and then…. When I’m looking back I think that helps me to be more motivated for this season.”
“The off season has been really good so far. At the end of the season there is a period between the training and school, yup I must go to university in the off-season. I’m learning physiotherapy; at least at the end of my career I will be able to fix myself. I’ve also met my new team and got my new bike."
“I decided to sign for Lapierre because I saw it as a good opportunity for my career. I think they will help me to perform and find the little things that will make the difference. It’s a really good team, the people and the bike, and I will have no excuses if I miss out at the races. It’s a bit weird to come back into a French team and ride with a French bike, it has been long time but I love it.”
It’s an amazing feeling. Because secretly you know that you can win, but most people don’t think so because you haven't proved yourself by winning World Cups before, and then you smash it,
In the same way that the young riders Danny Hart and Morgane Charre have won the World Championships before having bagged a World Cup victory; Emmeline was World Champion in 2009 before winning her first World Cup a year later. “It’s an amazing feeling. Because secretly you know that you can win, but most people don’t think so because you haven't proved yourself by winning World Cups before, and then you smash it,” she says with laughter, “and everyone is like waaaahhhh!"
Having just missed out on retaining her World Champs title when she got the silver in Leogang, it’s easy to see her priorities, “It’s great to win the World Cup series but when the World Champs arrives, everything is different. It’s like you delay all the results of the year and here is a new start and a new opportunity to do great, and get the jersey! It’s a more stressful race I think, it’s the race that you can’t miss. So for me the more important and prestigious race is the World Champs.”
Despite her taste for the rainbow stripes, the series is the backbone of any season, “I like a couple of this coming season’s tracks, I’m looking forward to Fort William, and Val di Sole too. My goals are pretty basic, win everything.” When asked what preparation that is going to take, she jovially continues, “That is a secret, but I can tell you that I’m trying to do some different training for next year. We will see if that works…”
