Wednesday, 17 July: French duo Vincent Thomas and Lucas Granger will fly the flag for Guadeloupe in next month’s Russky Offshore in Vladivostok, Russia [13-17].

Racing for Vick Team 971 Thomas and Granger will join riders from Portugal, Qatar, Spain and Russia in this gruelling five-day, 1000km event raced around Russky Island.

Born in Nantes, France and now living in Guadeloupe, 46-year-old Thomas is a 17-year racing veteran during which time he has amassed a host of World, International as well as French and Guadeloupe national titles, taking multiple wins in notable events such as L’Endureau Du Touquet, Challenge Kawasaki France, Jet Classic, Calais Internationale Jet Cup, Coupe De France, Jet around Caymans and Tour de Guadeloupe.

Granger, who was born and lives in Guadeloupe and the younger of the Vick Team duo, made his racing debut in 2005. He was runner-up in the Guadeloupe Runabout Championship in 2009, winning the Guadeloupe Jet A Bras in 2010 and 2011, and finishing fifth in the famed Karujet in 2010 and 2013.