It may be passed under the radar in the turbulence of the moment of the walk in the World, but the result obtained by the French cousins ​​in the SPA town of Podebrady in the Czech Republic last weekend cannot be just coincidence.

In Rio Maior, with the opportunity to say hallo, so we had a chat with the coach of Emilie Menuet and realized that the development plan of France is set in a framework that offers a very interesting scene.

In the land of Bohemia on Saturday combining the classic race of Podebrady it has also played an international match between Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, the host country.

They were part of the meeting the two U20 races over a distance of 10km (men and women) and the two senior races over a distance of 20km (men and women).

it certainly can not be the result of a coincidence if France has won three of the four possible standings.

Even more can not be the result of chance "as" have been won.

10km U20 men

1.- France: 4 points

2.- Poland: 10 points

3.- Great Britain: 12 points

10km U20 women

1.- France: 4 points

2.- Poland: 9 points

3.- Lithuania: 17 points

20km men

1.- France: 3 points

2.- Hungary: 15 points

3.- Sweden: 21 points

20km women

1.- Lithuania: 3 points

2.- France: 11 points

3.- Poland: 13

If not for the twins Zivile and Monika Vaiciukeviciute (LTU) the French cousins ​​would make a historic "en plein".

In the senior men’s race, Kevin Campion has spent much of the race as the only true antagonist of Christopher Linke (GER), and despite two difficult final kilometers are finished second in 1:20:28 his new personal best (previous of 1:20:39 established always here in Podebrady on April 12, 2014), Europe's second performance of the season behind obviously Christopher Linke.

This makes us think that the French walker loves Bohemia land of crystal, and for them (the French) of sound results.

But it was not just Kevin Campion to improve his personal best. Even Jean Blancheateau (1:22:59) shredded his personal best of 1:25:08 obtained last May 07, 2016 in Rome.

And Gabriel Bordier who had finished the 2016 season in 1:28:46, does even better in terms of differential, finishing in 1:23:50 (-4:56).

They would have these few numbers to make their happy, but at youth level the music was that of a Rossini crescendo.

In males, David Kuster resists for 8km to the favorite Leo Kopp (GER) and finished second in 41:31 new personal best for him (43:42 obtained last May 07, 2016 in Rome).

Justin Bournier imitates his teammate and finished fourth in 43:03. Needless to say that for him Podebrady is the luck of his personal best since the previous 364 days ago had been obtained on this circuit in 44:00 (April 9, 2016).

The same fate also credited the least of the three young Bleus, Ryan Gognies, at 47:44 that last year, answer this year with a 47:06.

In females instead, behind the impossible-star Teresa Zurek (45:53), is the moment of Camille Aurriere (48:36) to get the better on Anni Nurmi (48:40) and the teammate Eloise Terrec (48:44).

For Aurriere the personal best of Saint Sebastien-sur-Loire of March 13, 2016 (50:29) is deleted and replaced with the current 48:36.

For Terrec instead to be deleted is the personal best in Rome on May 7, 2016 (49:42) and replaced with the current 48:44.

Even the least of the three accredited transalpine, Sarah Lacroix, set a new personal best in 52:56 (53:20 previous established in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland on December 11, 2016.

And we return to the 20km women with which we started this discussion.

Maybe it was the lack of Emilie Menuet but this was the weakest event of the Bleus.

Marine Quennehen arrives 11th in 1:35:07 which of course is the new personal best (previous Podebrady last year of 1:38:27).

The same goes for Amandine Marcou arrived 14th in 1:37:00 (previous personal best of 1:37:23, set in Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire of March 13, 2016).

We think it is enough to say that without Yohann Diniz of France this was a historic day and suitable for framing: eleven athletes with eleven personal bests is not something everyday.

Today, senior aside, the European list on 10km, in prospective of Grosseto 2017, sees two French athletes on the first four in men and two French athletes on the first ten in women.

If they're roses they'll bloom.

Allons enfants de la Patrie. Le jour de la gloire est arrivé !

(cover photo by FFA)