Bytager the publication "When triathlon shapes the cyclist – and vice versa: the example of Théo Ramirez"
One Saturday in September, on the routeIn the hilly countryside of Margny-sur-Matz, a young man started a cycling race almost incognito. A trained triathlete, he rarely takes part in this type of event. However, on this day, he blew away the peloton with the strength of his legs, before flying off alone to victory. His name: Théo Ramirez, 20 years old, licensed to Amiens TriathlonThis performance, impressive in its audacity and mastery, is not just a simple racing success. It poses a fascinating question for all endurance enthusiasts: what does triathlon bring to cycling, and vice versa? Through his journey and his words, Théo invites us to delve into this fertile dialogue between two mutually enriching disciplines – and to understand how, from this complementarity, a more complete athlete is born.
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR
His victory in this cycling race where we met him for 3bikes was not only notable for its style. It illustrates a fascinating question for all endurance enthusiasts: When a triathlete gets on the bike, what is special about them? And conversely, what can a triathlete learn from cycling culture?
Through his journey and his words, we will explore this dialogue between disciplines, rich in lessons for all those who love to ride, run, swim... or simply progress.
Triathlon, a school of endurance and mental strength
Triathlon is a sport where you learn to manage. Manage your body, your energy, your effort. No wheel to take, no teammate to plug the gaps: performance is first and foremost individual. Théo sums it up like this: " In tri, you're alone against yourself. You can't hide. »
This school forges valuable qualities for cycling:
- Long-distance endurance : knowing how to maintain sustained intensity for several hours.
- Effort management : measure your strengths without ever letting yourself get carried away too soon.
- Mental resilience : bear the pain, tame the fatigue, remain lucid despite the suffering.
This background largely explains Théo's ease in Margny-sur-Matz. Where others explode after an attack, he held firm. Where some doubt, he continued to press. And he draws a golden rule from this: " I prefer to arrive at the end exhausted rather than waiting for the sprint without having done anything. »
The contribution of cycling: intensity and strategy
But the story is not one-sided. Cycling also has a lot to offer a triathlete. First difference: the racing dynamics. A peloton lives on brutal accelerations, recovery phases, tactical attacks. Where triathlon imposes a linear effort, cycling teaches you to manage the jolts. Théo points out frankly: " Cycling works in spurts, with phases of intensity and recovery. It's not the same effort as triathlon. »
Second contribution: collective strategy. Reading a race, understanding who is collaborating, who is stalling, knowing how to position yourself: these are all skills that are rarely used in triathlon but are crucial on two wheels.. Even though Theo was surprised by certain attitudes – " much less collaboration than in sorting " - he reconIt is clear that this experience opens up a new field of learning for him.
Finally, there is high intensity volumeRiding in a nervous peloton, multiplying attacks, holding a breakaway: so many physiological stimuli which enrich triathlon training, often focused on regularity.
The Ramirez Example: A Hybrid Equilibrium
Théo's journey perfectly illustrates this dialogue. In winter, he rides little, focusing on swimming and running. Cycling returns in the spring, then becomes central in the summer, when triathlons calm down. " This summer, I did almost nothing but cycling. I enjoyed myself in mytagno, to climb passes at full speed. No specific plan, just the desire. » A hybrid training program, both structured by his coach and dictated by his feelings. A few PMA sessions recently added to sharpen his explosiveness, but always with this simple compass: pleasure and listening to the body.
And that is its uniqueness. Between the rigor of the triathlon and the freedom of cycling, Théo finds a balance that allows him to progress without holding himself back..
The mind, the common thread
Whether we're talking about triathlon or cycling, one constant comes up: the head decides as much as the legs. Théo says it clearly: “ I look at my meter, I know it's going to hurt, but I prefer to give it my all. » This approach, inherited from triathlon, helps him in cycling races. But the opposite is true: the tactical demands of cycling force him to think differently, to move beyond the simple duel with himself.
Thus, each discipline nourishes its mind:
- Triathlon teaches individual resilience.
- Cycling requires collective responsiveness.
For a complete athlete, combining the two ensures a richer, more adaptable mind.
Inspirations and philosophy
Like many young French triathletes, Théo grew up admiring Vincent Luis, a model of consistency and panache. On the cycling side, his references are just as telling: Thibaut Pinot for emotion, Remco Evenepoel for audacity. We understand his choices better: riders capable of attacking from afar, of riding alone, of giving their all. Men who would rather fail having dared than win without panache.
And Théo concludes with a maxim that sums up his entire state of mind: " Having fun and limiting myself, doing what I want, because it won't be necessary in twenty years. I feel better on my bike than in a nightclub. »
What readers can take away
For our cycling readers, Théo's story is much more than a tale of victory. It's a source of concrete lessons:
- Testand other disciplines : swimming, running, varying your training enriches cycling.
- Train alone : learn to trust your feelings, to build an effort without the help of a group.
- Value pleasure : don't forget that performance also feeds on immediate pleasure.
- Playing on both sides : the rigor of sorting + the nervousness of cycling = a more complete athlete.
And for triathletes, the lesson is clear: daring to take on a peloton can strengthen explosiveness, tactics and intensity management.
And to conclude: a dialogue to cultivate
Théo Ramirez's victory in Margny-sur-Matz is not just a local news item. It is a symbol of a wealth to be exploited: that of bridges between disciplines. Triathlon builds valuable skills for cycling: endurance, management, and mentality. Cycling, in turn, sharpens intensity, tactics, and racing instincts.Together, they build complete athletes, capable of facing any situation.
Theo is only at the beginning of his journey. But his example reminds us of a simple truth: The boundaries between endurance sports are meant to be crossedAnd it is in these back and forths that the most beautiful escapes are born.
