Fighting to race cyclocross in Europe, on and off the course

Maghalie Rochette had to pivot. She and her team, which includes her partner/coach/mechanic/manager David Gagnon and her dog Mia, were going to head from the south of France to a cyclocross race i n Spain at the end of October. Then it was cancelled. They pointed their camper van toward Belgium just as France and its neighbour to the north started locking down to manage surging coronavirus cases. They got into Belgium, where Rochette raced Koppenbergcross. She finished 16th.

Shortly after, Rochette wasn’t sure if her season would continue. Would the World Cup series get cancelled? What about the other cyclocross series, such as Telenet Superprestige and x2o Badkamers Trofee? If the races were on, how safe would she and Gagnon be? What if they got sick? “We really don’t know,” Rochette said. “We’re ready to be here until cyclocross worlds at the end of January, if possible. Or, we’re ready to go home next week if everything collapses.”

Racing continued, and so did Rochette. She had some mixed results: 19th at Superprestige Jaarmarktcross Niel and 11th at Superprestige Merksplas on Nov. 22. At the start of Gavere i n midDecember, Rochette’s right foot slipped from her pedal and got caught in her front wheel. She was seriously injured. The plan was then to get to a hospital for X-rays. Setting up that procedure wasn’t straightforward for someone who doesn’t speak the local language in a country with a raging pandemic. A fan, and doctor, in the Netherlands reached out to Rochette through social media and offered help. That evening, Rochette knew her ankle wasn’t broken, just very swollen. She had to rest and heal so she could race again.