Most individuals catapulted from relative obscurity into the highlight would battle to come back to phrases with their newfound standing, and not too long ago topped world champion Magdeleine Vallieres isn’t any completely different.
In a large ranging get-to-know-you query and reply session printed on her EF Training-Oatly crew web site, the Canadian rider admits to being barely nonplussed by her superstar, however reveals her aggressive spirit, concentrating on success at subsequent spring’s Ardennes races.
“It’s actually bizarre. I am not used to it in any respect,” she says. “I’m making an attempt to cover a bit of bit as a result of I really feel a bit bizarre. I do not actually perceive it. I am the identical as I all the time was. It’s particular, however I am not used to having all this consideration. I didn’t realise it could be such an enormous factor.
“From Canada, I’ve had a whole lot of very nice messages, particularly from the younger riders, saying that they are excited and now see that it is potential to win races like worlds. I feel that is the largest factor. I did not realise how a lot of an impression this might have on others, serving to folks consider in themselves. That is without doubt one of the issues I am essentially the most happy with: that it’s potential to encourage folks to consider that they’ll actually do it.”
It’s this potential and the elevated confidence her success will give which have dictated her most important targets for subsequent 12 months. “I wish to win one of many Ardennes Classics,” she mentioned. She has improved annually she has raced the three occasions which shut the spring marketing campaign, and Flèche Wallonne would appear to be her greatest probability, as she was 14th there this 12 months.
Vallieres additionally reveals her ideas as she approached her greatest win up to now, and so they’re in all probability not too dissimilar from these all of us watching would have had.
“I used to be considering, “I do not know what to do. I do not know what to do.” I noticed 500 metres to go, after which it began to really feel a bit of bit extra actual, but in addition not so actual. The final 500 metres felt lengthy. The highway went barely as much as the highest. I assumed, “Now, I suppose I have to have a good time. However are they only proper there? Do I’ve time?”
“I used to be fascinated about Kristen’s [Faulkner] win on the Olympics, when she simply went by way of and did not do something, as a result of she was so centered. So, I used to be like, “Okay, I have to do one thing.” I did not suppose. I simply lifted my arms. After which, as a result of I used to be so in disbelief that it actually occurred, I feel I simply had a whole lot of emotion. Alison [Jackson] advised me afterwards that my celebration was good, so I used to be like, “Okay, I am good. It is positive. It was celebration.”
Different gems within the crew interview are who she’d prefer to see in live performance: Charlotte Cardin, a Québecoise singer. Her favorite writer: Lucinda Reilly. Her favorite café order: cappuccino. And her favorite piece of clothes? Her rainbow jersey, in fact.