Baugé takes his hat and leaves. In the world of sports, it's not often that a top athlete retires at the start of the Olympic year. Usually, planning revolves around the Olympics. As soon as that ends, there's a flurry of activity with old champions leaving and newcomers taking their place. Retiring early rarely happens, and only for specific reasons. These are the reasons that led Gregory Baugé to this decision. they are not tied to specific events, but more precisely to an awareness.
"I'm used to competing," he says, "if I can give 100% of what I am, but I've realized that now I can only get to 90% and that's not enough."
Nine world championships
Who is Gregory Baugé? Simply one of the greatest specialists in the history of track speed: 9 times world champion in individual and team competitions, 5 times European champion, 4 times on the Olympic podium between Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. The defeat in the individual final in London 2012, against Britain's Jason Kenny still hurts, but it's not his biggest regret.
«Of course, the Olympic gold is everyone's dream, but if I look back what hurts me the most is what happened in 2011, causing my teammates Michael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau to lose the team world title."
That year Baugé had won both titles (in the individual final beating his future Olympic avenger Kenny), but in the following January he was stripped of his successes due to a positive doping test.
The slip
Baugé had recovered from this bad slip, indeed he had drawn inspiration from it for his future.
«I want to be an example for the new generations, I want to work again in the world of track cycling to ensure that France remains at the top. A Paris 2024 we will have to play a leading role and I wouldn't mind helping someone reach that goal that I missed..."
Racism
Closing his career, Baugé looks backHis ebony figure has remained imprinted in the history of track cycling, demolishing old stereotypes through his exploits.
«In the world of cycling I have never been subjected to racist acts, but I can't say the same in everyday life – he told Cyclim'actu – how can we get out of it? I would like to know, racism is part of our lives. Every death of a black man because of it is one death too many."
In Guadalupe
Looking back on his career, Baugé identifies his fondest memory, which does not coincide with one of his many world championship victories.
«The most intense satisfaction I experienced was in 2009 – he says – when I won the French title in front of my people in GuadeloupeAlmost the entire local population was there to watch me, to cheer me on. I was wearing the world champion's jersey, the people went crazy, it was something huge. My whole family was there, my friends, it was incredible. My country has given me so much, now it's my turn to give something back."
