Cycling: National Championship 2017 |04 July 2017

Miguel Mathieu follows in his father’s footsteps with overall victory

He took the worst possible finish ‒ fourth place ‒ to miss out on a medal in his first involvement in the National Championship last year and on Sunday he proudly stood on the highest step of the podium as the winner.

Adams cycling club’s cadet rider Miguel Mathieu is the winner of this year’s National Championship sponsored by the Chez Deenu shopping centre by virtue of a difference of 2 seconds on his senior club mate Dominic Arrisol.

And his win in a cumulative time of 6 hours 08 minutes 53 seconds (6h08:53) in the four-stage Tour covering 229.7 kilometres over three days came six years after his father Hedson Mathieu picked up the last of his record 11 National Championship win in 2011.

Named after cycling royalty Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain who won five consecutive Tour de France from 1991 to 1995, Miguel Mathieu was still a toddler when his dad was dominating the local and regional cycling scene, but on Sunday he eclipsed his elder by winning his first National Championship at a younger age. In fact, Miguel’s win has come at the age of 14 years, while Hedson picked up his first when he was 16 years old, in 1997.

“He is a strong rider at his age. He is stronger than me when I was his age,” his father Hedson told Sports NATION yesterday.

Catapulted into the limelight at a young age, Miguel Mathieu is destined to be a great cyclist if he can cultivate the right mental attitude and does not let new-found fame go to his head.

For now, the youngster born on September 20, 2002, has his father to keep him grounded and Hedson believes his son has a bright future.

“He is serious during training sessions and always wants to push his limits, but I have to respect the international regulations regarding training load for a cadet rider. I am sure he will develop into a much better cyclist than I was,” added Hedson who is his son’s coach.

Miguel did not only win the overall title, but capped it with two stage wins ‒ the 6.3km hill climb in 20 minutes 40.440 seconds (20:20.44) and 114.4 road race in 2:59:01 on a sprint finish ‒ to succeed three-time National Championship winner Ahmad Arissol who was absent.

The other two stages were won by Dominic Arrisol (26.5km individual time trial in 36 minutes 29.630 seconds) and Christopher Gerry (82.5km circuit race in 2 hours 08 minutes 46 seconds).

On top of winning the overall title, Miguel also claimed the best cadet trophy, while Stephan Belle was the best junior rider (seventh overall with 6h13:16) and Dominic Arrisol took the senior category prize (second overall with 6h08:55).

“I feel proud and happy to get my first National Championship win,” Miguel told Sports NATION.

The secondary four student of Plaisance who has been cycling for two years, said he only thought of winning the championship when he got a break in the final stage and sprinted to the finish line. And he has thanked his teammates for all their help.

Asked what he expects to gain from cycling in the future, Miguel replied: “I want to be a better cyclist than my dad who won two Indian Ocean Island Games’ individual time trial gold medals in 2003 (Mauritius) and 2007 (Madagascar). I want to become a professional rider and take part in the Tour de France”.

The prize for the best club went to Adams cycling club comprising Mathieu, Arrisol, Fadi Confiance and Xerxes Larue with a cumulative time of 18h27:32.

The prizes were presented by Sashi Senthil Kumar of Chez Deenu shopping centre, National Sports Council chief executive Giovanna Rousseau and former sportsman Peter Anamole who is now wheelchair-bound.

National Championship results

First stage – 6.8km hill climb

1st Miguel Mathieu 20 minutes 40.440 seconds

2nd Stephan Belle 20 minutes 57.290 seconds

3rd Fadi Confiance 20 minutes 58.850 seconds

Second stage – 26.5km individual time trial

1st Dominic Arrisol 36 minutes 29.630 seconds

2nd Xerxes Larue 37 minutes 09.530 seconds

3rd Fadi Confiance 37 minutes 11.840 seconds

Third stage – 82.5km circuit race

1st Christopher Gerry 2 hours 08 minutes 46 seconds

2nd Mario Ernesta 2 hours 09 minutes 13 seconds

3rd Dominic Arrisol 2 hours 09 minutes 17 seconds

Fourth stage – 114.4km road race

1st Miguel Mathieu 2 hours 59 minutes 01 second

2nd Lario Harrison 2 hours 59 minutes 01 second

3rd Stephan Belle 3 hours 01 minute 40 seconds

Teams classification

1st Adams cycling club 18 hours 27 minutes 32 seconds

2nd Angels Vélo Club 18 hours 45 minutes 58 seconds

3rd Option Max cycling club 19 hours 11 minutes 09 seconds

Overall winner

1st Miguel Mathieu 6 hours 08 minutes 53 seconds

2nd Dominic Arrisol 6 hours 08 minutes 55 seconds

3rd Mario Ernesta 6 hours 10 minutes 40 seconds

National Championship winners

2017: Miguel Mathieu

2016: Ahmad Arissol

2015: Ahmad Arissol

2014: Ahmad Arissol

2013: Dominic Arrisol

2012:  Edward Pothin

2011: Hedson Mathieu

2010: Andy Rose

2009: Andy Rose

2008: Francis Louis

2007: Hedson Mathieu

2006: Hedson Mathieu

2005: Hedson Mathieu

2004: Hedson Mathieu

2003: Hedson Mathieu

2002: Andy Rose

2001: Hedson Mathieu

2000: Hedson Mathieu

1999: Hedson Mathieu

1998: Hedson Mathieu

1997: Hedson Mathieu

1996: Garry Gappy

1995: Gilbert Figaro

1994: Lucas Georges

1993: Gustave Siméon

1992: Lucas Georges

1991: Lucas Georges

1990: Sam Rignace

1989: Lucas Georges

1988: Lucas Georges

1987: Sam Rignace

1986: Sam Rignace

1985: Roland Hoareau

G. G.