The Vaudreuil-Soulanges region was well represented at the Canadian Road Cycling Championships held in Beauce from June 21 to 24. A trio of local athletes, Clovis Roy and Jonathan Hinse from Vaudreuil-Dorion and Gabriel Séguin from Les Cèdres, took to the start line in the hope of a podium finish. Néomédia spoke to Gabriel, who was taking part in this national competition for the 2nd time.  

How does the young man analyze his performance more than a week after this important competition? "I'm a little disappointed, because I had high hopes for the time trial. I finished in 8th place. I would have liked a better result, but I gave everything I had in my legs, so that's the important thing. It's a shame, because it was a great opportunity for me to qualify for the Road World Championships, but it's only a postponement," he says at the outset. 

Did the heavy rain during the race affect his race? "I don't think so, because all the cyclists had to deal with the same conditions. On the climbs, I followed the peloton at full speed, but I couldn't keep up the pace on the rest of the course," he explains.  

Despite his young age, Gabriel Séguin was taking part in the Canadian Road Cycling Championships for the second time. Last year, the competition was held in Edmonton, Alberta. However, he was familiar with the twists and turns of the Beauce region, since the Quebec Road Cycling Championships were held there in 2023. The course, however, was different. 

How did he prepare for this national race? "For the time trial, I rode as much as possible on my bike with an extender to find the most comfortable position and the one that would give me the most power. For the road race, I didn't change my training routine", he confides. 

It should be noted that it was in the U19 category that the young man earned a place on the starting line, in the same category as Jonathan Hinse, a cyclist from Vaudreuil-Dorion.  

Two important competitions to come 

Like his compatriot from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Gabriel Séguin won't be able to relax and unwind during the summer season. On July 15, he'll be starting the Tour de l'Abitibi. "It should be a good race. I won't hide the fact that I've got clear objectives in mind," he says, without sharing them. 

The cycling enthusiast was also lucky enough to be selected on the national team that will be heading to China to take part in the Track Cycling World Championships. "We leave on August 16. It'll be my very first time taking part. Of course, I'm a bit stressed, as the event will bring together the world's best athletes in this discipline. Personally, I prefer road racing, but I'm going to give it my all to deliver the best possible performance. The Tour de l'Abitibi will also be great practice for me to get in shape for the international competition in August."

Before setting off for Asia, Gabriel Séguin will also make sure he gets plenty of practice on the Bromont track.  "Unlike a road race, a track race is very fast and very quick. It has no hills and requires a lot of endurance.

Like Clovis Roy and Jonathan Hinse, Gabriel would like to ride professionally in the future. What advice would he give to someone who wants to do the same?  "Without a doubt, persevere. It's quite difficult at first, and you don't get good at it overnight. You have to persevere for a long time before you succeed. There are ups and downs, and it's important to stay focused on your goals."

For his part, it was at elementary school that the young man first came into contact with cycling.  "A friend of mine won a duathlon at my elementary school four times in a row. That piqued my curiosity, and one thing led to another: this friend sold me his bike, and that's how I got into cycling. Through perseverance, I got hooked on the sport," he concludes.