The www.parisnicechallenge.com/en/">Paris-Nice Challenge is done and dusted. We’re meeting up today for the 7^th and final episode in our account of ELLE & G4 where  Morgane Moinard and Geoffroy Lequatre pay homage to women’s sporting endeavours. You may recall, Geoffroy, the former professional rider was tasked with readying Morgane, an experienced athlete, for the www.parisnicechallenge.com/en/">Paris-Nice Challenge which took place on 11th March. Get to know them better by clicking here and also by checking what they wore at the end of this article.
We join Morgane and Geoffroy for a summary of the www.parisnicechallenge.com/en/">Paris-Nice Challenge. This is another opportunity for you to take note of the advice from a professional rider, but also to discover how Morgane fared.

 

The Preparation of Paris-Nice Challenge

Geoffroy: Morgane, I must start by saying a big THANK YOU! It has been a pleasure to work with you over the past seven weeks.  It was great to coach such a motivated athlete and you really made this story your own. I am very proud of what you have achieved, surpassing even the goal. You took on board all my advice and then followed the training programme to the letter and beyond. Given your training, the result was a forgone conclusion. But I was most impressed with how resolute you were. Of course, we also have to thank your husband for his support – very important for the moral. You completed the 80km course in just 3:05, 30 minutes quicker that he estimated!

Morgane: I’m also very proud with what we’ve achieved largely thanks to the planning and preparation. It was great to chart my weekly progress and incredible to have obtained such good form after only seven weeks. This shows that planning and preparation pays dividends, even over a short period of time. The other important things are maintaining a healthy diet and motivation from start to finish. Okay, so I didn’t start from scratch, I had a good base from my trail running and jogging. However, it’s been a while since I’ve ridden much. Luckily, you were there to coach me.

 

Clothing

Morgane: Above and beyond our objective, I trained for six weeks in ideal conditions with the advice from a professional and wearing top-notch bike kit.  I could say good bye to all my bad habits, including setting off at too high a pace. I now appreciate the long training ride I undertook in the big chain ring the day after I’d completed the snow trail in Valberg was too much. The support of family and friends has also helped me to stay focused. Equally important was the range of G4 clothing I wore on each ride.

Personally, I was already sold on the Distinguished jacket and shorts which match my bike. Both are exceptionally comfortable and I never had to worry about the cold. More importantly, the chamois was really comfortable and protected my butt beautifully!

Morgane: While I love the colours of the Distinguished collection, when the weather permits, I like to wear my Simply outfit with its vibrant and fun purple and yellow spots. I think it’s a very feminine and slimming outfit, just what us girls need and want! Of course, when it’s cold I love the Chic winter jacket. Not only is it beautiful but the cut is superb. It keeps me warm and saves me from the wind. The reflective back pockets stop me stressing because I know I’m more visible on the road. It has won me many compliments from friends who find I look both elegant and feminine thanks to its colour and range of co-ordinating accessories. I feel chic in it – it’s well named!

Morgane: But there’s a jacket   I liked even more! It was love at first sight with the Graphic mid-season jacket (above). It’s incredibly the comfortable and so light you don’t even notice you’re wearing it even though it insulates you from the cooler temperatures. It was much warmer during the race than when we were training, so then the summer kit was perfect. I also took my favourite, the Simply vest. Even more than the colours, I love the material which is similar to that of the Graphic mid-season jacket. A very fine fabric indeed, plus it matches my socks!

Paris-Nice Challenge : the race

Morgane: During the race, I had a tough time in two places.  Fortunately, we had identified them during our reconnaissance trip. The first one took place when I arrived in Aspremont just after the false flat. I think I took the climb too quickly. Though I must add that the previous climb passed very quickly and without incident where I rode at an average of about 20km/h. The second one took place towards the end of the course, half way up La Turbie. No surprise as I was beginning to tire. But I found my second wind when I overtook the rider just ahead of me; then there was just a fast descent to the finish. The bottom line is that after the challenge I wasn’t as tired as expected, proof positive that the preparation bore fruit.

➜ See Morgane during the race thanks to this report from FRANCE3.

Geoffroy: The ELLE & G4 program came about for a number of reasons. First of all, it was my maiden challenge to coach and accompany our female G4 Ambassador. I am delighted that the training has gone so well, and took place in such good conditions. Moreover, the aim of this challenge was to show that cycling is also an ideal sport for women. In addition, we wanted to promote the female products in our brand.  It was a pleasant surprise to see so many women participating in the race this weekend. The ladies will now appreciate that G4 allows you to find your own style and to enjoy yourself. G4 believes it’s important to produce cycling kit that is both fashionable and has all the technical features.  Don’t you agree Morgane?
Morgane: It was great to see so many women riding a bike, and to see that so many brands cater for women. On balance, it’s a shame that we have to make such an effort to honour women. It puts us in a delicate situation where we can clearly see the contrast with the men, and where we still have to emphasise things for women. But I found this an agreable and  uplifting experience. Every time I read about it, it gives me such pleasure and I hope you’ll continue to do something similar in the future. But then I love the brand!

Legacy

Geoffroy: Throughout this experience, I was able to pass on my knowledge and beliefs by giving professional advice on and off the bike, also advising on choice of clothing and communicating my vision of quality design through the G4 brand. This had resulted in the opportunity for you to not only give of your best but also to surpass expectations. You have also been able to enjoy learning more about our clothing ranges and experience the benefits first hand. Clothing that combines comfort, flatters the feminine form, is stylish, well-designed and has all the technical features. In short, everything women want.
Finally, it is only natural that this experience with Elle & G4 has as revealed our DNA, that of elegant performance. The advice of a professional, what to wear and the quality of that clothing will be the key ingredients in our next challenge L’Etape du Tour.  We look forward to revealing our next athlete for the upcoming G4 challenge!
Find all of Geoffroy Lequatre’s advice in each of  the different episodes of  ELLE & G4 story: Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 6.
That’s all for this first ELLE & G4, we hope you liked it and we’re counting on you to catch the next one. Don’t forget to keep up to date with all our news on G4’s Facebook page.
Until then,

we encourage you to ride the roads of the Cote d’Azur