Things are changing for 2008. After racing with the VCOM cycling team since 2002, I was approached by Paulo Saldanha of Premier Studio who wanted to expand his team for 2008. After sitting on it for a few weeks, I decided to try something new, and join friends David Albert, Michel Courval, and Carl Dessureault as new teammates for 2008 in the Master A field. Then the team merged with the Opus powerhouse Master B sqad. It will be a stimulating environment with so much experience on this team.

2007 Recap

It was a strange season. A spring cycling camp to Virginia, and early season races had my form peak for the Gaston Langlois 40Km time trial by mid June. This was probably my best effort in a TT (even compared to Nationals TT in 2006), taking first place amongst all categories. Unfortunately, 2 days later my immune system gave up, giving way to a cold, flu, fever, whole nine years, one week before the Sutton stage rage (4 races in 3 days). So I reduced the volume on the bike but still continued racing, doing Sutton, then Nationals (TT and road) . Long story, but I felt that my body never fully recovered throughout the summer. Lesson learned - when you are sick, take the time off from racing.

I still somehow managed to finish first in the Quebec ACVQ Master A ranking, due to consistent results in time trials, a few good races, and the competition being strong, but spread out over many good riders. In September, I also had a fine short duathlon (3km run-33km bike-3km run) taking first place in St-Sauveur for a second year in a row. Had a tougher day at the Esprit half ironman distance triathlon finishing in 4:49 (way off 4:24 in the previous year) , including 2 flats, in rainy cold weather.

Beginning 2008

So this winter, I vowed to stay of the trainer after riding two many miles in the basement in previous years. I'm starting to enjoy cross training much more, so I trained with a triathlon group at a local YMCA, mixing swimming, running, general spin classes, and cross country skiing. Nothing too serious, but kept the body active.

With an almost record snowfall in Quebec, and not going to a cycling camp this spring, I have very little miles on the road before the first face April 27. Very little means about 50 kilometers! So I certainly have long way to reach race fitness, but it will come...