“Finishing 1st overall in the World Cup would be great”
At only 21 years old, the Riviera mountain biker Thibaut Dapréla already has a good track record and great ambitions. For his third season in the elite, the native of Grasse could well see himself climbing to the top step of the Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup.
This is not the debut he dreamed of. In Lourdes, for the first stage of the 2022 Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup, Thibaut Dapréla fell halfway, relegating him to 59th place in the standings. But the dolphin of the 2021 World Cup is not likely to bemoan his fate.
“I was on a good time but I brushed against a tree and it made me fall. It’s not a big injury, I’ll be ready for the next stage in a month and a half.” he explains philosophically.
An unfailing mind
Falls are part of the discipline. You have to know how to take it and get up. Last season, Thibaut Dapréla, then overall leader, fell on the last two courses, finishing second a few points behind Loïc Bruni, four-time world champion and two-time World Cup winner.
“Each time is an experience. I am young and I still have a lot to learn”
At each event, the Peymeinade rider, a member of the team COMMENCAL MUC-OFF, gain experience and learn from mistakes. Given his apparent relaxation and the maturity of his words, we almost forget that he is only 21 years old and two seasons behind him in the elite.
Since he was a child, Thibaut Dapréla has been immersed in the world of mountain biking with his father Régis, a former rider, and close friend of Nicolas Vouilloz, 10 times world champion in the discipline. After having followed them on the paths and the races from an early age, this sport imposed itself naturally in his home.
“It’s a kind of calling and a passion. I’ve always dreamed of doing just that.”
The Côte d’Azur performs quickly in the world Junior MTB downhill circuit and wins the Junior World Cup two seasons in a row (2018 and 2019).
Crowned French Champion in 2019, he joined the Elite world circuit in 2020 and finished 5th in the general classification of the World Cup. In 2021, it will be 2nd place. And in 2022? The future will tell. In the meantime, meet on May 21 and 22 in Fort William (Scotland) for the second stage of the World Cup!
Photo credits of Thibaut Dapréla: CommencalMucOff_KenoDerleyn_20