“Before I entered the ring, I knew there was one fast combination to beat. So I had to choose: go for the win, or play it safe and aim for the podium? Niels Bruynseels convinced me that winning was within reach… so I went for it.”

And successfully so. As the final rider in the jump-off, he knew immediately after his round that the victory was his. “That feeling is just incredible. The atmosphere here is amazing. To be able to compete at such an iconic venue — it’s simply fantastic. I want to thank the French crowd for coming out today.”

With his victory, Thomas also secured a coveted qualification spot for the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague. “I was already close in Shanghai and last week in St. Tropez. Honestly, I didn’t think about it too much — my main goal was to win this Grand Prix, and the rest would follow. But that ticket to Prague is, of course, a great bonus.”