Under the grey sky of Glasgow, Jeanjean, 25 years old and triple European champion (2020, 2021, 2022) missed his two runs on the same figure, falling to the ground after twirling his bike several meters above the ground during a jump.

"I'm very disappointed. I did some nice training where I managed this trick and I never fell, but that's how the game is, "regretted the rider from Sérignan, in the Hérault, bronze at the last Worlds in the United Arab Emirates and 24th in the final ranking this year.

This young discipline, on the programme of Paris-2024 and which made its first Olympic appearance in Tokyo in 2021, consists of chaining tricks on artificial obstacles.

In the heart of the green park of Glasgow Green, the wind and the cold played spoiler during the men's competition, won with panache by the British Kieran Reilly, ahead of the reigning Australian Olympic champion Logan Martin, 2nd, and the American Nick Bruce.

"The wind, the cold, the waiting... These are parameters that penalized this final a little, but Anthony was ready, "wanted to relativize Florian Ferrasse, coach of the France team.

"I'll be ready" in 2024

According to Jeanjean, who was aiming for gold in Scotland, the weather was not bad enough to justify his falls. "I've had conditions like this before, so that's part of the game. You have to know how to adapt. It didn't help but I don't blame it. It's me who makes the mistake," said the Héraultais, 3rd at the end of qualifying the day before.

Already European champion in Poland in June, just ahead of Anthony Jeanjean, the young Kieran Reilly, author of a spectacular run rated 95.8 by the judges, crushed the contest even before the start of the last six riders.

Anthony Jeanjean in Glasgow on August 7, 2023 © Oli SCARFF / AFP

He concluded his second run with an impressive "Double Flare", a perilous figure combining both a backward jump and a 180-degree rotation.

"I took risks and it paid off. I'm really happy to be the first European to take the rainbow jersey," said the 22-year-old cyclist. "With Anthony, we are rivals and both competitors, but it pushes us to give the best of ourselves," he added to the Frenchman.

One year before the Paris Games, the BMX Freestyle Park event of these World Championships was a major test for Anthony Jeanjean, 7th in Tokyo. The Héraultais is one of the few riders from the Old Continent who can worry Australians and Americans, historically dominant in this spectacular discipline.

"It was an important step for me but I remain focused on Paris-2024 which is my priority and which I keep in mind at all competitions," said Jeanjean. "All that remains is to go home to continue working. I will be ready," he warned.

© 2023 AFP