In 2011, Patrick Bringer took third at the IAU Trail World Championships. In 2013, he dropped out of them. This time, he redeemed himself by once again finishing third for the victorious Team France. In the following interview, Patrick talks about how his race went, how he improved on his run on the same route as last year, and how important this victory was for the French runners.
Read our results article for the full story on the men’s and women’s races.
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Patrick Bringer Post-2015 IAU Trail World Championships Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar, and I’m here at the finish line of the 2015 IAU Trail World Championships. I’m with third place, Patrick Bringer. Felicitacions. Congratulations.
Patrick Bringer: Yes, thank you. Thank you very much.
iRunFar: How are you feeling now that this 85k race is over?
Bringer: It’s easier after the race. I start slowly this year because we had the race selection last year, so I know it’s very difficult. So, it’s okay because I finish more quickly, so it’s better like that.
iRunFar: You finished and ran the MaXi-Race, the open version of this race last year and came third?
Bringer: Actually, I was second place.
iRunFar: Second place last year, pardon me. You’re familiar with the course. You’re familiar with the day.
Bringer: Yes, it was my second time.
iRunFar: How did this year compare to last year for you?
Bringer: It was better conditions. The weather—it was less humid. It’s because I think it was a bit quicker. The race went more quickly.
iRunFar: The speed of the runners was faster.
Bringer: Yes, and the level of the runners was better.
iRunFar: The competition was better. You’re not unfamiliar with the Trail World Championships. Two World Championships ago you were also third place. You have now a pair of third places at the IAU Trail World Championships. How does that feel?
Bringer: I feel happy with these two third places because it’s a regularity. Two years [ago] I didn’t finish, so today I really wanted to finish before the place. I wanted to finish. Third is very well. Two third places—I’m very happy. I’m the only French person to do that at the moment, so it’s very nice.
iRunFar: Let’s talk for a moment about your day. You did start pretty conservatively and pretty slowly. You were outside of the top 10 for at least the first third of the race. Was that intentional? Did you try to start slowly and then speed up?
Bringer: Yes, I decided to be 15th or 20th at Semnoz and after, come back little by little after. I know the very important part is Doussard to Chalet de l’Aulp. In this part I do the best and after again the last climb. But in the very technical parts, I’m not really good. I come 30 seconds behind the two leaders, but I can’t go down like them.
iRunFar: So it must be uphill that is favorable for you then?
Bringer: Yes, I have good legs today in the climb.
iRunFar: My last question for you: Team France is now the gold-medal winners of the 2015 IAU Trail World Championships. How does that feel? Being able to walk away from this race not only with a third place individually but also the team gold medal—how are you feeling?
Bringer: We have a very good team that looks after us. For us, the French Championships is probably more important than the foreign delegations. We put all of our energy into winning the race this year. For most of the runners, it’s been about six months that we’ve been preparing for this race specifically.
iRunFar: Congratulations one more time, and thanks again for chatting with me today.
Bringer: Thank you. Maybe one day in USA.
iRunFar: Okay, we’ll see you there. We’ll be waiting.
Bringer: Thank you.
[Editor’s Note: Thank you to Anne-Marie Dunhill for the translation assistance!]
