MTB Orienteering World Champion Augustin Leclere Finds the Road to Gold on His Raft
Ridley caters to all cyclists who want to get the most out of their ride – from top-level WorldTour riders to the most passionate amateurs. Augustin Leclere is no exception; he is born to perform. In MTB orienteering, he is one of the most sensational talents. Through Rhone Alpes Bikes, Ridley supports this adventurer with a sky-blue Raft. “This summer I was able to claim my sixth world title,” Leclere proudly says.
MTB orienteering is an endurance sport that attracts both mountain bike enthusiasts and map readers. The key orientation skills needed are route choice and map memory. Excellent bike handling is also required to compete at the top. You must be able to conquer steep climbs, both uphill and downhill. To protect nature, participants are generally not allowed to leave the trails, although exceptions are sometimes made.
In the late 1980s, the sport began gaining popularity in well-known mountain biking countries. The World Championships are held annually, with around 25 national teams participating. Competitors are recognizable by a compass (sometimes worn on the arm), a map holder on the bike, and of course the special orienteering map provided by the organizers. Thanks to Rhone Alpes Bikes, Augustin is also recognizable by his Raft – Ridley’s full-suspension MTB.
MTB orienteering is an endurance sport that attracts both mountain bike enthusiasts and map readers. The key orientation skills needed are route choice and map memory. Excellent bike handling is also required to compete at the top. You must be able to conquer steep climbs, both uphill and downhill. To protect nature, participants are generally not allowed to leave the trails, although exceptions are sometimes made.
In the late 1980s, the sport began gaining popularity in well-known mountain biking countries. The World Championships are held annually, with around 25 national teams participating. Competitors are recognizable by a compass (sometimes worn on the arm), a map holder on the bike, and of course the special orienteering map provided by the organizers. Thanks to Rhone Alpes Bikes, Augustin is also recognizable by his Raft – Ridley’s full-suspension MTB.
Perfect Preparation
This year, the MTB Orienteering World Championships took place in Poland in mid-August. “I needed two days to get familiar with the Polish forests and learn how to orient myself there,” Leclere explains. “I prepared meticulously for these championships. For three months, I prioritized the sport over my studies. It was also my last U20 World Championship, and after dominating the European Championships with three titles in four races, I had to deal with being the favorite.”
“The first discipline was the sprint – not immediately my favorite, but thanks to my explosiveness and many sprint trainings, I have a talent for it. I prefer to do these trainings in the urban area around my home in northern Isère.” Leclere actually won this discipline. “I rode a flawless race and was able to make the difference on the technical forest sections. Choosing the right route was also key to my success.”
In the middle distance, the Frenchman earned silver. “The race went very well, and I felt strong on the sand hills. Yet I had to bow to my Finnish rival, who had an advantage as the terrain was very similar to Finnish forests. I gained confidence for the mass start, my favorite discipline.”
“The first discipline was the sprint – not immediately my favorite, but thanks to my explosiveness and many sprint trainings, I have a talent for it. I prefer to do these trainings in the urban area around my home in northern Isère.” Leclere actually won this discipline. “I rode a flawless race and was able to make the difference on the technical forest sections. Choosing the right route was also key to my success.”
In the middle distance, the Frenchman earned silver. “The race went very well, and I felt strong on the sand hills. Yet I had to bow to my Finnish rival, who had an advantage as the terrain was very similar to Finnish forests. I gained confidence for the mass start, my favorite discipline.”
Raft XC
Raft XCThe lightweight Raft XC is a full suspension MTB with 100mm suspension travel. Its 100mm rear suspension is designed with performance in mind, a remote lock out lets you sprint with direct power transfer to the rear wheel. The agile handlebars and steep seat angle guarantee razor-sharp handling and power transfer. Thanks to the longer wheelbase and slacker headtube angle, you won't lose time on descents either.
Discover the Raft XCFavorite Discipline
During the mass start – what’s in a name – everyone starts simultaneously. In this discipline, Leclere defended his world title. “I was really looking forward to it, and it became an exciting race that ended in a battle between three riders. I accelerated at the penultimate log crossing and saw a Czech rider choose a certain route. Luckily, I had memorized the map and chose a different route, riskier but time-saving. I emerged from the forest first and crowned myself world champion for the fifth time in my career.”
In the long-distance World Championship, Leclere took the wrong map, which was disappointing. With a sense of revenge, he went to the relay. The Ridley ambassador started second and turned a one-minute deficit into a lead. His team then sealed the victory, allowing the Frenchman to go home with his sixth world title. What a way to leave the junior category!
In the long-distance World Championship, Leclere took the wrong map, which was disappointing. With a sense of revenge, he went to the relay. The Ridley ambassador started second and turned a one-minute deficit into a lead. His team then sealed the victory, allowing the Frenchman to go home with his sixth world title. What a way to leave the junior category!
