French triathlete in contention to be selected for the next Olympic Games, Léo Bergère talks about his ambitions for Tokyo, his training and his partnership with ASICS.
September 2020, Léo Bergère changed dimension at the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg. The ASICS athlete returned from Germany with two medals around his neck. Léo won the mixed relay with his teammates and also took third place in the individual event behind his compatriot Vincent Luis and Vasco Vilaça from Portugal.
The triathlete, who recently moved to the Pôle France in Boulouris in the south of France, explains to We Rock Sport how these results have changed his approach to competition and his ambitions. With three months to go before the Olympics, he also talks about his training in running, swimming and cycling, and finally about the characteristics of the Noosa Tri 13the new triathlon shoe from the Japanese brand.
A mental course after Hamburg
"That bronze medal at the worlds last year took me to a whole new level mentally. I know now that I can play at the front of a race of this level. I worked hard this winter to repeat this kind of performance in order to be among the best in a race like the Olympics. We will know the composition of the French Olympic team after the WTS (World Triathlon Series) stage in Yokohama on May 15. That's when I'll know if I'm part of the team. "
Preparation in competition mode
"Between now and the Olympics, I'm going to train a lot and take part in two or three competitions at most. I am finishing a winter phase that was based on large volumes, on the basics. Now that I have a good base, I'm starting a more specific phase in view of the first competitions of the season and the big objectives that are coming in two or three months. "
One coach, three disciplines
"A triathlete's training is obviously focused on all three disciplines, but a lot of the training is done on the bike. I spend 12 to 20 hours a week in the saddle depending on the time of year. That's more than in swimming and running but we put the same importance and energy on the two other disciplines.
To accompany me, I have only one coach who takes care of my programming in all three sports. It's simpler and more efficient for complementarity and for planning the weeks. It avoids ending up with three different and not necessarily complementary series on the bike, run and swim. This year, I've put a bit more emphasis on running, because I want to go further in this discipline. "
ASICS and the Noosa Tri 13: a real revolution in muscle development
"I have been part of the ASICS team for two years now. I was attracted to the brand because of its reputation and its products. What appealed to me was the comfort and protection against injury, in addition to having high performance products.
It is besides the case of the Noosa Tri 13, the new model of ASICS where there is a true revolution. This pair of shoes allows you to save your muscles thanks to the sole in the shape of a pendulum which makes the foot tilt naturally towards the front. The technology used (editor's note: Guidesole technology) is also present on the Glideride, a shoe that I also appreciate. On long sessions and triathlons where your legs are already worn out by cycling, it's a real asset. "
A perfect shoe for barefoot running
"In addition to being part of the triathlon landscape for several years, the Noosa Tri 13 is a shoe that is designed for barefoot running. The mesh is very comfortable and allows us to run without socks and without the risk of blisters. In addition to this model, on race day, I use the Metaspeed Sky, the new competition model from ASICS, which kicks ass. "
