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RENCONTRE
As for example SCHOLL. At the end of 2016,
Patrick Girard of the Sables Vendée Triathlon club TrimaX-magazine : We’ve seen you less in
contacted me to see if we could work together and France these last two years... It seems that
we quickly agreed on many points. Thus all of that you have decided to return to French races
is really good for me with this club. with Aix and then Nice... Did the fact to
wear the colors of a French club motivate
TrimaX-magazine : It’s quite surprising to you to come back or is it another source of
see you sign in a club which is rather focused motivation ?
on Olympic Distance. What are the projects
with this new club which have convinced Frederik Van Lierde : Yes and no. It’s my own
you? choice but of course it’s good if I race a lot in
France this year. After my victory in Hawaii in
Frederik Van Lierde : Probably because in France 2013, I had many invitations on races and I had
you are used to recruting short distance athletes... to make choices. Now I want to go back to races
The LSVT has also shown its interest for long where I already had good performances.
distance athletes. The young people who work
for them, regional societies, their organizations... TrimaX-magazine : You have a very special
projects in which I will work together with them. story with Nice which goes back to even
before the first Ironman was organized. I
TrimaX-magazine : You are certainly one of guess that it’s always a bit special for you to
the most preferred athletes in France... And race there?
you also do like France. How was built this
beautiful story with France ? Frederik Van Lierde : Yes, in the world cup in Nice
in 2002, I crashed quite seriously and I lost the
Frederik Van Lierde : Difficult to say but first I live sense of smell... But yes, I don’t think about it a
close to the frontier ;-). I began triathlon in 1997 lot anymore and the fact to win the Ironman Nice
and I clearly remember racing in Lille, Beauvais, several times has helped me a lot.
Charleville Mézières, Gérardmer... I’ve always
felt good and appreciated by the people and TrimaX-magazine : Regarding your
organizations from the beginning of my career. attachment to France and Nice, I guess that
With my three victories in Nice, I have very good you have been very affected by the dramatic
memories in France. events of July 14th ? Will this race have a
different dimension for you
this year ?
Frederik Van Lierde : Of course
like everybody! I think that I, and
everybody else in triathlon, the
IRONMAN Nice, must honor
all the victims who lost their
lives on the Promenade. It’s so
sad but we can’t let ourselves be.
We must fight against injustice
in this world. The organization
and the participants will do
everything, I’m absolutely sure,
to give a new dimension to this
event on July 23rd!
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