A bronze medal at worlds out of many unknowns

“Maybe it was a shame that I didn’t know Laura Stigger because she is the world champion in mountain biking. I didn’t know what to expect from other girls, too. But I did know what to expect from me. I knew I was in top shape and feeling really strong,” said Simone Boilard. The junior national champion in the time trial and criterium was speaking about the junior road world championship race in Innsbruck, Austria, in September. Stigger, from Austria, won. France’s Marie Le Net finished in second place. Boilard took bronze, the first junior Canadian woman to do so in 18 years.

At the start of the race, the rider from Quebec City found it a challenge to position herself within the pack before the first major climb. The field of more than 100 riders was bigger than her local Quebec races. Throughout the event, she stayed with the right groups until the end: a four-up dash for the line that put Italy’s Barbara Malcotti in fourth.

Next season will also be full of unknowns for Boilard as she makes the jump to the elite field with its stronger riders and races double the distances she’s used to. “It will be really hard next year,” she said. “The goal is to be on a team that will get me to a lot of races and get me a lot of experience.”— MP