The Interview: Rémi Thirion - The French Wildcard

---

INTERVIEW: REMI THIRION - THE FRENCH WILDCARD

---

Rémi Thirion, from Raves in north eastern France, has been riding from a very young age and he's come a long way fast. Having secured not just a World Cup win at his team's home ground in Vallnord, Andorra in 2013, he was again back on the World Cup podium in Leogang this year after being the second fastest rider down the mountain with a chain.

Rémi signed for his first big team - Labyrinth Shimano Racing - in 2011, and had a strong couple of years on the World Cup circuit. In 2012, Rémi finished the season in seventeenth place overall. His highlights that year included two ninth-placed finishes, one in Val di Sole and the other in Val D'Isere.

In 2013 Rémi signed for Commencal Riding Addiction, and it wasn't long when he was on the top step. Fittingly, it was in Andorra - the home of Commencal - where Rémi took his first World Cup win in Elites.

Rémi, now 25 years old, is growing his form and developing into one of the fastest Frenchmen on the World Cup scene. He's certainly one of the most stylish, and one of the most creative riders with his line choices. Something must have clicked for Rémi in Leogang, because in Lenzerheide he was again one of the fastest in his peers. However, after crashing hard and injuring his ankle in Mont-Sainte-Anne in July during practice, Rémi decided to take time off to recover properly and focus on the World Championships in Vallnord, Andorra.

The circuit has certainly missed him and his all-out wild riding style and we can’t wait to see him back racing and fighting for the infamous Rainbow Jersey once again.

---

Can you tell us how it all began for you, how did you get into mountain biking?
My father rode motocross when he was younger, and so naturally my younger brother and I wanted to follow in his steps. My father however felt that we should learn to ride a bicycle first, so my brother registered with the local cycle club, and I joined him. At the club I learned various different disciplines, trial, XC and downhill, and haven’t stopped since.

Downhill has always been what I love the most, it brings everything; speed, technicity, trajectories, fun and adrenaline all at the same time. You really have to push your limits in downhill and it gives you such a great feeling. Although I love downhill, I try to keep my riding as versatile as possible, and so I try to find the time to ride every kind of bike, even BMX.

How did the the deal with Commencal Riding Addiction come about?
At the end of 2012 I was out of contract with my team, and I was approached by the team manager of Commencal/Vallnord, Thibaut Ruffin. Out of all the team managers who had approached me knowing that I was soon to be out of contract with my then current team, he was the most motivated.

I was soon on my way to Andorra to test out the Commencal bike and I loved it at the first run and felt instinctively really comfortable on it, and once that first ride was done, I gave them the green light.

I've known the Ruffin brothers and family since I was in the downhill circuit - it’s the same with Pom Pon - and we always had a great relationship together. Over the last three years nothing has changed in that respect, we are just a bigger family.


What’s your approach to races? Do you prefer being left alone or does being in such a big and busy team help with your preparations?
For the physical and technical part I work alone with my coach, but for the rest, the presence of my team is indispensable. We talk a lot with Thibaut and Gaëtan about the track and the race.

My mechanic Damien does a fantastic job preparing my bike to the top-most condition, his hard work allows me to take a leave the pits without any doubt as to the performance of my bike. In the team pit, Marilou, Thibaut and Gaëtan’s mother, handles the kitchen - they cook us the best food around - while I rest. My father - who is a physio and osteopath - and Geo the team’s physio work with me to help me recover quickly after I compete.

What or who has been your biggest influence in getting you to where you are now?
When I was young, several riders influenced my passion for riding and racing, like Palmer, Gracia, and Peat. But when you begin to evolve in Elites yourself, you become the single source of motivation. The strive to be the best belongs to you, and only you can develop as a faster rider, and learn to tackle and overcome your own weaknesses. You don’t have to dream to become your idol, it all comes from you and your ambition to build your own dream.

What’s the best advice you were ever given?
To never forget where I came from.

How do you unwind?
On the races I like to listen to some music or to fight with my team-mate Gaetan. We are fighting really often… turning each other's rooms upside down, that kind of thing. It’s a good way for us.



Have you suffered any injuries in your career?
I broke my left hand in 2008 and had to take a few weeks off. And this year in Mont Sainte Anne, I injured my ankle with a big sprain in the last rock garden where I slid off on the take off while gaping between two rocks. It made me missed out the last three rounds of the World Cup while I was ranked fifth. It was hard to even think about but I got over it and worked as hard as I could to be ready for World Champs in Andorra.

If you weren't a professional downhill mountain biker, what would you have liked your career to have been?
I would say a MX Enduro or motocross rider, probably at the highest level. I've always been a competitor and I wouldn't have done this 50%.


What was the toughest course you have ridden to date in your racing career?
In terms of a physically demanding track, I would say Pietermaritzburg. We had to pedal pretty much all the way along from start to bottom. The most technically demanding was Champery in 2007. It was really steep and the track super natural, with no mistakes allowed.

Where's your favourite/most fun place to ride, either at home or abroad?
I always enjoying riding my track at home in Raves. Other than that, my other favourite places to ride are Morzine, Schladming, and Vallnord. I was bummed to not race in Val Di Sole this year due to my injury.


What’s the national downhill scene in France like? How has the national federation helped you, if at all?
We have a very good racing level in France with a lot of really talented riders. The French team has always helped the riders to grow up not financially but organising training during the off season with the French Team. We usually have two trainings during the off season, and the federation take care to us on at the World Championships.

What's your training regime like? Given there's not much of an off season these days, do you get time off, and if so, what do you get up to?
I enjoy training and working hard to reach my goals. I follow a very versatile type of training regime with a lot of different things - both on and off the mountain bike - like moto, running, gym time, skiing and sometimes swimming.

When I get a day off I spend it with my girlfriend, family, and friends. I also usually take a month off after the race season. But this year is going to be a bit more busy with some exciting projects...


Is there anyone you'd like to thank whilst you're here?
I am keen to thank all my family, especially my parents who my always supported and encouraged to practice my passion for riding. Of course, I want to thank my team - Commencal / Vallnord - and all my sponsors who have helped me to reach my goals and continue to do so.

---

Rémi Thirion's sponsors are Commencal, Vallnord, BOS Suspension, Hutchinson, Fox Head Europe, SRAM, Fibre Premium, Five Ten, Renthal, HT, Novatec.

Photos by Nathan Hughes, Matt Wragg, Dave Trumpore, and Matthew Delorme.

Follow Rémi via his Facebook page, his Twitter account, or his Instagram profile.

---

MENTIONS: @COMMENCALbicycles / @foxheadeurope / @FiveTen / @SramMedia / @natedh9 / @mattwragg / @davetrump / @mdelorme

---

Posted In:
Interviews Remi Thirion