Karol-ann Canuel

Veteran of the pro peloton is looking to new challenges

Karol-ann Canuel has competed at the highest level of women’s cycling since 2010, but has been racing since she was 11 years old. In 2019, she pulled on the national road champion’s jersey and has been wearing the maple leaf in the pro peloton since. The rider from Amos, Que., is on SD Worx, which is the latest incarnation of the team she joined in 2016. In June, as Canuel prepared for the Olympics, she was also looking toward a big change for 2022.

You won the national road race championship in 2019. Because of the pandemic, you’ve been wearing the mapleleaf jersey since. What does it mean to wear the jersey?

It's still so special to wear this jersey. I'm so happy I get to do so. I'm so proud to be able to represent my country everywhere I go. It has been an honour to wear this jersey for two years in races and in training.

“It has been an honour to wear this jersey for two years in races and in training.”

How have you adjusted to racing in the new normal?

I'm guessing you are talking about racing during the pandemic. It has been more than a year now so I think it has become normal to race like this. It's the new normal to have a lot of pcr tests to make sure the races are safe. But I find it adds more stress to the travel, which I need to deal with. But other than that, racing itself is quite the same as before.

Your SD Worx team has had some huge results this year and in the past wearing different colours. How has your time been with the organization since 2016?

I love this team so much. It has been my family since 2016. It is an honour to wear those colours and be teammates with the best cyclists in the world. I have learned so much throughout the years.

You raced your first world championships in 2005. Which of your many visits to worlds is most memorable?

I have lots of good memories from worlds over the years. One of the best was when I placed fifth as a junior. I knew then I could have a career in cycling. As a senior, winning my first team time trial with Specialized-lululemon in 2014 was a great memory. Finishing sixth in the time trial a few days later was nice as well. The last one was in 2018 when I got sixth in Austria. My teammates worked hard for me, and I was able to get a nice result for the team.

What races will you be targeting for the rest of the season?

Right now, the main target is the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

What’s your favourite place to train?

I really like training in Spain. It has nice roads. The motorists are good to cyclists, and the weather is really good most of the time .

How many coffees on race day? Only one coffee.

Pre-race food?

I have to have oats in the morning. If the race is in the afternoon, I love pasta.

What are your plans following the Olympics?

It’s not clear yet, but I’m 90 per cent sure that I’m going to retire from the sport after this year. I think that after this year, after the Olympics, it would be a good time to stop. I’m 33 years old now. I’ve been doing this forever. [Laughs.] it’s time to move on. I still love cycling. I like the injuries that come with it less and less. I’m kind of tired of that. For me, it’s time to do something else.

Do you know what that something else might be?

No. Not yet. I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s a bit scary, but I know it’s the right call.