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Mountain biking One last World Cup in Europe before returning to North America

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2 years ago

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Mountain biking One last World Cup in Europe before returning to North America

Four Quebecers were on the starting lines of the elite races at the Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets, France. Of the lot, Léandre Bouchard obtained the best result with a 45e place among men.

At the end of the eight loops of 3.52 kilometers, Bouchard was 5 minutes and 39 seconds behind the winner of the event, Frenchman Victor Koretzky. The Swiss Nino Schurter finished in second place (+17 seconds) while the Romanian Vlad Dascalu ranked third (+21 seconds).

“I did a race that I really enjoyed. I progressed throughout the race after avoiding collisions at the start. I was mentally good and I played every cyclist within my reach,” commented Léandre Bouchard.

Also at the start of this race, Raphaël Auclair took 59e echelon (+7 minutes 27 seconds) while Victor Verreault finished 77e (-1 turn).

“I expected more and I had prepared myself to get better results. Even though I was super efficient with my hydration and my diet, I finished in 77e place, although I had also started 77e. I’m still very happy to have given everything and to have fought until the end,” said Verreault.

On the women’s side, the day was also difficult for Laurie Arseneault who was caught by the leaders with two laps to complete. She ends her day in 60e place.

The event was won by the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner who beat the Dutch Puck Pieterse (+38 seconds) and the French Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (+1 minute 14 seconds), second and third respectively.

The Quebecer will want to quickly turn the page on this difficult race, she who will be back in Canada on Monday to prepare for the last two World Cups on the calendar.

“I ran out of energy after the second round and found myself completely lost. Some rest will be much appreciated when I return home! I’m keeping my head high for the two World Cups in America in the coming weeks,” Arseneault told Sportcom.

Top mountain bike athletes will be visiting Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia from September 27 to September 1.er October before concluding their season at Mont-Sainte-Anne from October 5 to 8 for the last World Cup of the campaign.

“There are two magnificent chances left in North America and I fully intend to score strongly,” concluded Victor Verreault.

Source: lapresse

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Cycling

Hugo Houle is excited about next season in his new team

Published

1 day ago

on

January 14, 2026

By

Hugo Houle is excited about next season in his new team

Hugo Houle was about to begin his winter training for the next season when he learned at the beginning of December that he would be racing under new colors in 2026.

After four years with the Israel-Premier Tech team, the 35-year-old Quebecer made the jump to Alpecin-Premier Tech, where he will notably find stars Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen.

It was therefore with additional motivation that he began to work harder in training two weeks later with his new bike.

“Training is going well despite the weather being a little colder these days,” Houle said during a recent telephone interview with The Canadian Press from his home in Monaco.

“The bike is going very well, I’m happy,” he continued. It handles well, it is very responsive. This is the biggest difference between this one [Canyon] and my old [Factor]. It’s really pleasant going downhill. »

Since 1er January, Houle has already covered more than 1,100 kilometers and climbed more than 20,000 meters of elevation gain in 12 days. This hard work will allow him to show off his new jersey with confidence on the 1ster next February, at the La Marseillaise cycling Grand Prix, in France.

“I knew it was a possibility that I would participate, but I only had confirmation five minutes before our conversation,” Houle said with a certain excitement in his voice. I’m very happy, it’s not far from home and it’s a race that I know well and which suits me. »

Houle started this race six times during his career and finished in the top 20 three times, signing his best result in 2016 with a 13e place.

He will then participate in the Étoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard, a five-stage race which will take place from February 4 to 8 in France. He finished eighth overall in 2023.

It is still too early to talk about what awaits Houle in terms of the three major cycling tours (Tour of Italy, Tour of France and Tour of Spain) this year, but he is excited by the opportunities that could present themselves to him.

The team has plenty of strong riders to support Mathieu van der Poel on the monuments. But they don’t necessarily have grand tour riders, so that should allow me to make the most of my qualities as a rider who likes breakaways to try to win a stage.

Hugo Houle

That said, Houle is also excited about the idea of ​​racing alongside Van der Poel and Philipsen, two riders who start every race, or almost, with victory in their sights.

“It’s definitely stimulating,” he admitted. When you have riders who are important in the race, you ride differently. You take control of the race and stay active. This is another race configuration that could be interesting. »

Eyes fixed on Montreal

Houle is expecting a good season with Alpecin-Premier Tech, but it is also the year of the UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026, which will take place in September.

And he makes no secret of it, the objective is to appear at the top of his form.

“It’s one of the main objectives of the season, that’s for sure,” he said. The goal will be to be at 110% when the time comes. »

Houle does not yet know whether he will participate in the Quebec and Montreal cycling Grands Prix or the Tour of Spain in the preceding weeks, but with the World Championships in sight, participation in a grand tour would be preferable, according to him.

“The Vuelta starts from Monaco this year, so it’s tempting,” he explained. Normally, I’m always in the best shape after a big tour. I think it would be ideal to prepare for the World Championships. »

A change of team, new teammates, a new bike, new challenges, World Championships at home… 2026 promises to be busy and it’s not the athlete from Sainte-Perpétue who will complain.

“It’s motivating, I can’t wait for it to start,” he concluded.

Source: lapresse

Continue Reading

Cycling

Alpecin-Premier Tech Hugo Houle excited about next season in his new team

Published

1 day ago

on

January 14, 2026

By

Hugo Houle is excited about next season in his new team

Hugo Houle was about to begin his winter training for the next season when he learned at the beginning of December that he would be racing under new colors in 2026.

After four years with the Israel-Premier Tech team, the 35-year-old Quebecer made the jump to Alpecin-Premier Tech, where he will notably find stars Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen.

It was therefore with additional motivation that he began to work harder in training two weeks later with his new bike.

“Training is going well despite the weather being a little colder these days,” Houle said during a recent telephone interview with The Canadian Press from his home in Monaco.

“The bike is going very well, I’m happy,” he continued. It handles well, it is very responsive. This is the biggest difference between this one [Canyon] and my old [Factor]. It’s really pleasant going downhill. »

Since 1er January, Houle has already covered more than 1,100 kilometers and climbed more than 20,000 meters of elevation gain in 12 days. This hard work will allow him to show off his new jersey with confidence on the 1ster next February, at the La Marseillaise cycling Grand Prix, in France.

“I knew it was a possibility that I would participate, but I only had confirmation five minutes before our conversation,” Houle said with a certain excitement in his voice. I’m very happy, it’s not far from home and it’s a race that I know well and which suits me. »

Houle started this race six times during his career and finished in the top 20 three times, signing his best result in 2016 with a 13e place.

He will then participate in the Étoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard, a five-stage race which will take place from February 4 to 8 in France. He finished eighth overall in 2023.

It is still too early to talk about what awaits Houle in terms of the three major cycling tours (Tour of Italy, Tour of France and Tour of Spain) this year, but he is excited by the opportunities that could present themselves to him.

The team has plenty of strong riders to support Mathieu van der Poel on the monuments. But they don’t necessarily have grand tour riders, so that should allow me to make the most of my qualities as a rider who likes breakaways to try to win a stage.

Hugo Houle

That said, Houle is also excited about the idea of ​​racing alongside Van der Poel and Philipsen, two riders who start every race, or almost, with victory in their sights.

“It’s definitely stimulating,” he admitted. When you have riders who are important in the race, you ride differently. You take control of the race and stay active. This is another race configuration that could be interesting. »

Eyes fixed on Montreal

Houle is expecting a good season with Alpecin-Premier Tech, but it is also the year of the UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026, which will take place in September.

And he makes no secret of it, the objective is to appear at the top of his form.

“It’s one of the main objectives of the season, that’s for sure,” he said. The goal will be to be at 110% when the time comes. »

Houle does not yet know whether he will participate in the Quebec and Montreal cycling Grands Prix or the Tour of Spain in the preceding weeks, but with the World Championships in sight, participation in a grand tour would be preferable, according to him.

“The Vuelta starts from Monaco this year, so it’s tempting,” he explained. Normally, I’m always in the best shape after a big tour. I think it would be ideal to prepare for the World Championships. »

A change of team, new teammates, a new bike, new challenges, World Championships at home… 2026 promises to be busy and it’s not the athlete from Sainte-Perpétue who will complain.

“It’s motivating, I can’t wait for it to start,” he concluded.

Source: lapresse

Continue Reading

Cycling

Hugo Houle feverishly ahead of next season

Published

1 day ago

on

January 14, 2026

By

Hugo Houle is excited about next season in his new team

Hugo Houle was about to begin his winter training for the next season when he learned at the beginning of December that he would be racing under new colors in 2026.

After four years with the Israel-Premier Tech team, the 35-year-old Quebecer made the jump to Alpecin-Premier Tech, where he will notably find stars Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen.

It was therefore with additional motivation that he began to work harder in training two weeks later with his new bike.

“Training is going well despite the weather being a little colder these days,” Houle said during a recent telephone interview with The Canadian Press from his home in Monaco.

“The bike is going very well, I’m happy,” he continued. It handles well, it is very responsive. This is the biggest difference between this one [Canyon] and my old [Factor]. It’s really pleasant going downhill. »

Since 1er January, Houle has already covered more than 1,100 kilometers and climbed more than 20,000 meters of elevation gain in 12 days. This hard work will allow him to show off his new jersey with confidence on the 1ster next February, at the La Marseillaise cycling Grand Prix, in France.

“I knew it was a possibility that I would participate, but I only had confirmation five minutes before our conversation,” Houle said with a certain excitement in his voice. I’m very happy, it’s not far from home and it’s a race that I know well and which suits me. »

Houle started this race six times during his career and finished in the top 20 three times, signing his best result in 2016 with a 13e place.

He will then participate in the Étoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard, a five-stage race which will take place from February 4 to 8 in France. He finished eighth overall in 2023.

It is still too early to talk about what awaits Houle in terms of the three major cycling tours (Tour of Italy, Tour of France and Tour of Spain) this year, but he is excited by the opportunities that could present themselves to him.

The team has plenty of strong riders to support Mathieu van der Poel on the monuments. But they don’t necessarily have grand tour riders, so that should allow me to make the most of my qualities as a rider who likes breakaways to try to win a stage.

Hugo Houle

That said, Houle is also excited about the idea of ​​racing alongside Van der Poel and Philipsen, two riders who start every race, or almost, with victory in their sights.

“It’s definitely stimulating,” he admitted. When you have riders who are important in the race, you ride differently. You take control of the race and stay active. This is another race configuration that could be interesting. »

PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES

Hugo Houle

Eyes fixed on Montreal

Houle is expecting a good season with Alpecin-Premier Tech, but it is also the year of the UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026, which will take place in September.

And he makes no secret of it, the objective is to appear at the top of his form.

“It’s one of the main objectives of the season, that’s for sure,” he said. The goal will be to be at 110% when the time comes. »

Houle does not yet know whether he will participate in the Quebec and Montreal cycling Grands Prix or the Tour of Spain in the preceding weeks, but with the World Championships in sight, participation in a grand tour would be preferable, according to him.

“The Vuelta starts from Monaco this year, so it’s tempting,” he explained. Normally, I’m always in the best shape after a big tour. I think it would be ideal to prepare for the World Championships. »

A change of team, new teammates, a new bike, new challenges, World Championships at home… 2026 promises to be busy and it’s not the athlete from Sainte-Perpétue who will complain.

“It’s motivating, I can’t wait for it to start,” he concluded.

Source: lapresse

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