At the time of writing, 13-year-old Coteau-du-Lac resident Justin Lafleur is on his way to Rock Hill, South Carolina. In a few days' time, the young man will take the start of the 2024 World Championships, which will bring together the best international athletes in this discipline. 

On Tuesday, May 7, Néomédia spoke to the man who came 54th at last year's BMX World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, just before the big start. Justin will travel the 15 hours to South Carolina's fifth-largest city by car with his parents. 

The competition will actually start on Sunday, May 12, but Justin's race will take place on Tuesday, May 14. Two days later, on Thursday May 16, the World Championship will come to an end. 

Even though the World Championships are being held in the USA this year, the level of difficulty will be keenly felt by the participating athletes. Is the track similar to the one in Coteau-du-Lac that Justin knows by heart? 

“It's an American track, so no, it's not the same. The bumps are rounder and the surface is crushed sand. Let's just say it hurts more when you fall because the ground is more compact,” he noted at the outset. 

How did he prepare for this different racing environment? “I got back into it a bit on the Coteau-du-Lac track. I haven't had much opportunity to do so in recent weeks with the late winter and all the rain that's fallen.I've only had a week or two to train on the track. I mainly practiced my starts and concentrated on the technical side of my jumps", he added. 

In his category, 114 riders will take the start.  “By way of comparison, a hundred riders did the same last year at the World Championships held in Scotland in the Elite and Junior Elite categories.We'll start in waves of eight riders and run three races. At the end of these, the riders with the fewest points will move on to the quarter-finals, and so on through to the grand final.Personally, as I haven't trained as hard as I'd like, I'm hoping to finish in the top 50.If that's the case, I'll be satisfied", he confided.

Last year, the international event was held in August. However, this year, with the Olympic Games scheduled for July, it was moved up to mid-May. 

What will be Justin's biggest challenge in this race? “The temperature.At this time of year in South Carolina, the mercury sometimes reaches 30 degrees Celsius, which is very hot.So you have to make sure you stay hydrated during the races with washcloths you can get wet.”

Other athletes from Vaudreuil-Soulanges will also be taking part in the World Championships alongside Justin Lafleur. They are Malakai Bergeron, Mélodie Raby, Eliott Beaulieu and Thalie Fournier. 

Those interested in following the performances of local athletes will be able to do so live on the International Cycling Union (UCI) Youtube channel.