A French National Championships in the Heatwave

The heatwave was the defining feature of the 2026 French National Championships in La Tour-du-Pin. Despite the extreme temperatures, the races were still able to take place. The Mayenne Monbana My Pie team battled through these demanding weather conditions by being active in the breakaways.

Constance Valentin and Alice Coutinho were particularly aggressive, spending most of the road race at the front. It was in the final part of the race that the return of the favourites and the increasingly fast pace began to take its toll. These especially demanding efforts should prove valuable later in the season.

In Ireland, where the air was easier to breathe, Fiona Mangan finished just off the podium in the road race after taking 5th place in Thursday’s time trial.

Constance Valentin, 14th in France : "We were all active at the beginning of the race with the goal of making the breakaway. Alice and I managed to get two riders into the right breakaway of these French Championships, which was great. Then we had to fight to hold on once the favourites came back".

Alice Coutinho, 20th in France : "It was really difficult with the heat, but it was the same for everyone. Our goal was to get ahead by making the breakaway. We achieved that goal since Constance and I were both in the break. Then the favourites came back from behind and it ended up being all-out racing until the finish".

Fiona Mangan, 4th in Ireland : “The weather was really windy and it rained a lot as well, so a typical Irish day but we rode on some beautiful roads. It went very well today, there was a break that went after 30 kilometers on a hard hill, with 9 girls and I was in it. After that I tried to get away and attack, because I knew we have very strong sprinters in Ireland, so I really didn't want the finish to be a sprint but in the end I couldn't get away. I came fourth.”

Results - France :

14 - Constance Valentin (16 of the time trial)

20 - Alice Coutinho

24 - Justine Gegu

25 - Léa Rondel

Results - Ireland :

4 - Fiona Mangan (5 of the time trial)

Photo credit : Cassandra Donne.