Nathan Cornillon | On the Path to the Very High Level

Photo © Triomphe Collectif

My Background and My Athletic Goals

My name is Nathan Cornillon. I’m 22 years old and I’m a elite athlete in Olympic cross-country mountain biking. I currently hold a professional certification in bicycle sales and repair, which allows me to pursue my passion while having a secure professional future.

I discovered mountain biking at the age of 10 at my local club in Sainte-Sigolène, thanks to a friend who introduced me to the sport. What started out as a simple hobby quickly became a true passion, and then a life’s work.

Since last winter, I’ve been working with coach Barry Austin (a leading figure in coaching within my sport), and since early 2026, I’ve also been working with a mental coach, Pierrik Muneret—all of which is helping me further optimize my performance!

Olympic Cross-Country Mountain Biking: A Demanding Sport

Olympic Cross-Country is a demanding event that requires a wide range of skills, including endurance, explosive power, and technique. The races take place on varied courses, generally between 3 and 5 km long, with a total duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes per lap, featuring numerous physical challenges as well as sections that require a great deal of commitment and precision. This sport isn’t just about pedaling; it’s also necessary to adjust the suspension settings (air and rebound) based on the course, as well as choose the right tires and tire pressure, which I check myself before every training session and every race.

A season at the highest level and the Massi team

A season generally begins in February and ends around October; the schedule consists of 22 races, including 9 World Cup rounds, the European and World Championships, followed by several international races across Europe, as well as three rounds of the “
” the French Cup, and the French Championship. Every year, I set my schedule with my personal coach and the team’s sports director.

A typical weekend at a World Cup or French Cup event begins with initial track reconnaissance on Thursday, followed by a 20-minute short cross-country race, the results of which determine the starting positions for the weekend’s main race. For example: the top 8 (first row), positions 9 through 16 (second row), and positions 17 through 24 (third row). Often, on Saturday, there are additional track reconnaissance runs before Sunday’s main race.

I’m currently a member of a Spanish team (Massi), which allows me to compete at the highest level in my sport. I also represent the French national team at various national training camps, as well as at the European and World Championships.

Ameg Group (Team Ameg Sport) partner of Triomphe Collectif