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 at this level. I've worked hard this winter to repeat that kind of performance, so I can be among the best in a race like the Olympics. We'll 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'm just coming to the end of a winter phase that was based on high volumes and the basics. Now that I've got a good base, I'm starting a slightly more specific phase with a view to the first competitions of the season and the big goals coming up in two or three months' time."
One coach, three disciplines
"A triathlete's training is obviously focused on all three disciplines, but we do a big chunk of our training volume on the bike. I spend 12 to 20 hours a week in the saddle, depending on the time of year. That's more than for swimming and running, but we put the same emphasis and energy into the other two disciplines.
To support me, I have a single coach who looks after my programming in all three sports. It's simpler and more effective for complementarity and for planning the weeks. It avoids ending up with three different and not necessarily complementary series for cycling, running and swimming. This year, I've put a bit more emphasis on running, because I want to go one step further in this discipline."
ASICS and the Noosa Tri 13: a real revolution in muscle development
"I've 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 hyper-performance products.
This is also the case with the Noosa Tri 13, ASICS' latest model, where there's a real revolution. This pair of shoes allows you to save your muscles, thanks to the pendulum-shaped sole that naturally tilts the foot forward. The technology used (editor's note: Guidesole technology) is also present on the Glideride, a shoe I also really like. On long sessions and triathlons where your legs are already worn out from cycling, it's a real asset."
A perfect shoe for barefoot running
"As well as having been part of the triathlon landscape for several years, the Noosa Tri 13 is a shoe that's 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, ASICS' new competition model, which packs a punch."
