Our Magnificent Seven
A record number of Canadians are set to ride to new heights in the pro peloton
For the 2021 road season, riders from this country, with solid support from their Worldteams, are hoping to build on all the hard work they’ve put in throughout their careers
Two years ago, Canada had a very modest number of athletes riding in the Worldtour. There were only three Canucks in cycling’s top division of road cycling during the 2019 season. That number doubled in 2020. This year, a record number of seven Canadians will compete in the Worldtour. Veterans Michael Woods, Hugo Houle, Antoine Duchesne and Guillaume Boivin are returning, with Woods poised to continue to build on his successful run in 2020 that featured wins at Tirreno-adriatico and Vuelta a España. The remaining three riders – James Piccoli, Alex Cataford, Benjamin Perry – are familiar with the Worldtour, but are still finding their way in the pro peloton. Here’s a look at the riders who could deliver Canadian fans one of the most exciting road seasons to date.
Hugo Houle
PRO SINCE: 2011
TEAM: ASTANA – PREMIER TECH
Hugo Houle has been at the Worldtour level since 2013. He is a world-class time triallist and has shown his prowess in both one-day Classics and undulating, grippy courses. In the 2020 edition of the Tour de France, he took an impressive seventh place on Stage 12 and was able to guide his team leader, Miguel Ángel López, to a sixth-place GC finish by the end of the Grand Tour. The years of experience that Houle brings to any given race day is a huge bonus for his team. While he has proven to be a reliable support rider, watch out when he is given the freedom to pursue his own aspirations or sneak into an early breakaway.
What are some key races you are looking forward to this season?
I will put all my focus around the Tour de France and the Olympics again this year. I want to start the season with strong performances in some of the Cobbled Classics, as well as Strade Bianche and Tirreno-adriatico.
How does it feel entering your ninth Worldtour season? Is the fit right at
Astana – Premier Tech?
Over the years, I always find a way to improve my fitness and my level in races, so I want to keep moving in that direction. I feel comfortable at Astana – Premier Tech. The staff strongly believes in supporting me toward my goals, especially now that we are a 50 per cent Canadian team as Premier Tech have stepped up with sponsorship. It’s important to me that I represent them well. How different is racing during a global pandemic?
I had to spend my entire off-season in Monaco, where I live full time with my girlfriend now. With covid-19, it was not possible to visit Canada. Now, within the team, we have strong covid protocols, as we did last year. I hope the season will go ahead as planned, but we will see.
“I hope the season will go ahead as planned, but we will see.”
Michael Woods
PRO SINCE: 2013
TEAM: ISRAEL START-UP NATION
Michael Woods had a late start to his cycling career, but his successes have since impressed dedicated cycling fans as well as mainstream sport buffs in this country, especially his bronze medal at the 2018 world championship road race, two Vuelta stage wins and his 2019 victory at Milano-torino. The former middle-distance runner can go from a long way out or vie for the win out of a group of favourites. In February, Woods took the second stage of Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, giving his new team its first win of the year.
How has your move been to the new team?
The move to isn has gone really well. When I was at team camp in January, my wife called and asked, “How’s the new team?” I had to pause for a moment and remember that this is, in fact, a new team. From the staff to the riders, everybody made me feel super welcome. This had a lot to do with being good friends with the three other Canadians on the team – Guillaume, Alex and James – and with team owner Sylvan Adams and our head of performance Paulo Saldanha. I have also been teammates with several other riders and staff on the team, and even my Canadian soigneur from EF, Jon Adams, has jumped on board, so it was actually shocking how smooth the transition has been.
In January, you had been doing some training with Guillaume Boivin. Are there any other pros you like to ride with?
Yes, Guillaume and I are good buddies. G has known me since I first started racing, back when I rode for GarneauQuebecor in 2013. I do also ride occasionally with Alex Cataford and Ben Perry. However, the rider I have trained most with over this past year has been Mitch Docker. Mitch and I are the same age, we both have kids, and we both like to ride hard without many people. I am not a fan of showing up to a ride with more than one other person. I like riding at a good pace, in the wind, all day. Unless I am on a very easy coffee-shop ride (which has become a rarity since becoming a dad) then I prefer to just train with one other person and train hard. Mitch is most often keen to do the same.