Cycling: Nice's Axel Narbonne-Zuccarelli will compete in his last race this Sunday, during the French championships

Since the beginning of the season, Axel Narbonne-Zuccarelli had set the place and the day. His professional career will therefore end this Sunday on the roads of the French championships, in Les Herbiers. "It will be a special day, but I'm happy to finish in this French championship. It's symbolic and I can't wait to be there," explained the rider late Thursday afternoon.

At 27, the Bastia native leaves "without regrets" after three professional seasons, played in the Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur jersey.

"It doesn't fall on me like a rider who finds himself without a contract at the end of the season. I'm very happy to have fulfilled a childhood dream, that of turning pro. I can never thank the team enough for that. I could have continued because I love cycling, but with Jérôme (Pulidori, the manager), we had set this date together. That way, I've fully invested myself, and then I'll return to Corsica to work, still in cycling, by organizing training courses."

Arriving at the Don Bosco Pôle Espoirs in Nice at the age of 17, returning home was a tougher experience after almost a decade on the continent. "At first, it was hard, but I was lucky enough to live in Nice and I could return home quite easily," explains the young man from Cervione, south of Bastia. "The years passed, but I knew that one day or another I would return."

"A benevolent role"

Before that, there's a French championship to contest tomorrow and the rider who won the Tour of Morocco last year intends to play his part there. "The course is tiring and the big leaders will move in the last laps, so I'd like to be in the breakaway and make a small place at the end. But I also want to enjoy myself, without putting myself under pressure." Jérôme Pulidori appreciates being able to count on his road captain for another day. "He arrived a year after the team was created, he's one of the pillars. Axel has had a benevolent, constructive role, he's always there to defuse when there are conflicts. Beyond his performances, he played a big part in Paul's (Hennequin) success last year because he rides very well, knows how to position himself, feels the race and knew how to channel him. He's the big brother in the race and outside of it. And this season again, he's given the rest of the team the right momentum."

The Corsican places this collective spirit above all else, even when it comes to his best memories. "Of course, there's my victory at the Tour of Morocco, or a few notable breakaways, but when you've been able to put in place a team strategy that works while you're in the Conti ( ^3rd division) , that's strong. We've achieved some great performances with Paul (Hennequin) and Alex (Konijn) . We've had some great adventures with a group of friends. Besides, I stay in touch with all the riders..."

Among his own people, the emotion will inevitably be strong tomorrow evening, when the last bib is taken off.

Nice Métropole will start with four riders: Nice Métropole will line up only four riders tomorrow (Damien Girard, Noah Knecht, Dylan Massa and Axel Narbonne-Zuccarelli). The internationalization of the team has reduced the number of French riders, in addition to the change of nationality of Andrea Mifsud (Malta), while Melvin Crommelinck, bothered by his back, has not raced since the GP La Marseillaise.