ROMAN Franck (France)
After BMX career
Downhill racing (in the pioneer periode with very little suspensions) Went to Giant Pro team France Downhill and cross-country ! I trained a lot on the road alone and in the begining of the year 1991 I raced the cross championship : all the cyclo-cross and road guys had an idea about Bmx'ers like, they can't ride ...LONGDISTANCES...
And then, I finished Second, my 1st second place ! behind B.Lebras (french Cyclo-cross champion and top world 5!!!) In Champagne somewhere in France, beating all the other pro and racers !!! They couldn't believe it.
Later on, I won 2 National pre-championship races in front of all them !!! IT CHANGED their ideas on BMX'ers and they thought I was "crazy" the way I did ride with the BMX technics going UP hill ! and specially DOWN hill !! In 1991 I was the favorite rider for the pro championship ! I finished 5th in the National ranking (because I broke a lot of pieces on my bike) when I did hurt my anckel at the downhill round 2. I was great moment, I still felt like a BMX'er and wanted to prouve and show to the other cyclists what I was capable off and that BMX'ers were able to do very well too on mountainbikes!
Main Results in MTB?- French Cup N°2 downhill 93/94 6th
- World Championship downhill 93/world cup N°5
- Third Kamikaze (USA) N°6
- World Cup 94, N°5
- World Cup 95, World Cup winner
- Canada Almost World Champion all year : never did it !
MTB Teams you where in?
- Giant 91 Lapierre 93/93
- VOLVO Cannondale 94/96