Martial Gayant
Martial Gayant (born November 6, 1962 in Chauny , France ) is a former French cyclist who was successful in both road and cyclo-cross races .
Athletic career
Gayants success story began in 1981, when he was a 18-year-old amateur , the two French time trial race Grand Prix des Nations won (amateur version) and Chrono Madeleinois. In 1982 he signed a contract as a professional rider with the French cycling team Renault-Elf-Gitane , which also worked for the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner Bernard Hinault . His first year as a professional went without any notable successes, his best result was a 14th place in the Italian one-day race Piedmont Tour .
From 1983 Gayant started successfully in cyclo-cross races, he won the French championship and entered the Cyclo-cross World Championship , where he finished 19th. In the following years up to 1986 he was represented at the Cyclo-cross World Championships, the best result he achieved in 1986 with fifth place. This year he also won the national cross-country championship for the second time.
In road racing, Gayant appeared for the first time in 1983 at the Tour of Spain with 25th place in the results table. In another stage race , the Tour de Suisse , he reached 46th place. While he had given up after ten stages at the Giro d'Italia in 1982 , he won a stage in 1984 and placed 14th in the final ranking. However, it was his only successful Giro participation. He took part in the Tour de France five times. In 1985 he had to retire after the 15th stage because the time limit was exceeded. In 1987 he won a stage, wore the yellow jersey of the front runner for two days and was 34th in the end. In 1988 he came 71st, in 1989 he achieved his best final ranking with 32nd place, on his last tour in 1991 he had to retire early . At the road world championships in 1988 he was second most successful. Previously, he was 15th in 1987, he was 18th in 1990. Gayant was able to register five times in the results lists of the Tour of Lombardy . On his last appearance in 1991, he achieved his best result with second place.
After driving for the French team Système U for two years in 1986 and 1987, Gayant signed a long-term contract in 1988 with the French-based Toshiba racing team . His successful performance at the 1988 World Championships also helped him achieve his best FICP / UCI road ranking with 32nd place this year . Gayant spent his last professional year in 1992 with the Belgian lottery team. One of his last notable races was the French Tour de Romandie , which he finished in 52nd place. Because of a back problem, he had to end his professional career during the 1992 season.
Even after the end of competitive sport, Gayant remained loyal to cycling. In 2003 he took over the post of sports director for the French cycling team FDJ-Big Mat .
Important victories
| 1981: | Grand Prix des Nations |
| 1983: | French cyclo-cross championship |
| 1984: | Stage win at the Giro d'Italia |
| 1985: | Paris – Camembert |
| 1986: | French cyclo-cross championship Grand Prix Ouest France |
| 1987: | Stage win in the Tour de France |
| 1989: | Grand Prix de Fourmies |
| 1990: | Tour du Limousin |
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gayant, Martial |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French cyclist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 6, 1962 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chauny , France |