Held back early in the season by a knee injury, Clément Berthet is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. After several weeks made of treatment, rebuilding and hard work, the French rider is gradually getting back in shape. As he prepares to return to racing on home roads, he approaches this comeback with enthusiasm, ambition and clear-headedness. He looks back on this challenging period, the strong decisions made alongside the team, and the unwavering motivation driving him forward for the rest of the season.
How are you feeling physically, Clément?
I’m feeling better. At the start of the season, I had issues with my knee, which is an area of the body where it unfortunately takes time to properly identify the source of the problem and find the right solution. My recovery involved a lot of physiotherapy and strength work, in close collaboration with the team’s medical staff.
Where do you stand now in your training comeback?
I’ve been riding without any pain or discomfort for some three weeks now, completely normally, both on the road bike and the time trial bike. I also took the opportunity to fully review my position on the bike: cleats, setup, bike fitting… A real reset that was essential to prevent any recurrence. Today, I can train without restrictions.
Mentally, how did you experience this period?
It’s never easy. I was joining a new team with the desire to do well and to show myself, and I found myself stopped before things had even really begun. It’s frustrating to watch teammates racing. The hardest part is at the beginning, with the stress of the provisional race calendar: you see the deadlines approaching and you wonder whether you’ll be ready. Fairly quickly, though, we made the decision together to put the initial programme aside and focus first and foremost on my health.
How does your return to competition look now?
Almost ideal, if I can put it that way. I’ll be making my return to racing at home, in Franche-Comté, at the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs and the Tour du Jura. These are two races I really enjoy and that suit my abilities well. Results are always uncertain in a comeback race, but the main goal is to get back into the rhythm and find good feelings again. After that, I’ll continue my programme with the Tour de Romandie, just across the border.
That means missing out on the Giro…
Yes, the Giro won’t be part of the programme, by agreement with the team. It’s obviously a bit heartbreaking. I was heading there with a lot of ambition and the desire to discover a leadership role on a Grand Tour. But reason prevailed: my preparation was too affected to seriously consider that goal under the right conditions. So we adjusted the programme.
What are your main objectives now?
The goal is clear: to be at the start of the Tour de France. I’ll need to confirm my return to form over the coming weeks to hope to be on the start line in Barcelona, but it’s a very strong motivation. And if everything goes well, La Vuelta could then round out the season. The programme is different from what was initially planned, but it’s just as motivating.
What can you expect from your comeback weekend?
Of course, I have the desire to perform somewhere in the back of my mind. But I remain cautious, as I haven’t raced for a while. Training has been going very well, but I might still be a bit short when it comes to fighting for the win. That won’t stop me from being active in the race within a strong team that will be defending its two victories from last season. It will be a very important step for what comes next.
In one word, how would you sum up your comeback?
Excitement and relief. It hasn’t been an easy period, but now I’m really looking forward to starting this new adventure.
