Guillaume Martin got to know the Canadian customs hall at Montreal airport on Tuesday morning. Suffice to say he waited.
The Frenchman from Cofidis was nevertheless among the first cyclists to cross the glass doors of the international arrivals.
“Customs was a bit long, but you have to be strategic,” explained the runner-philosopher. You don’t have to be at the back of the plane. You have to be well prepared with the ArriveCAN app…”
What he failed to do: “That’s why it was so long!” »
Forget the cliché of the grumpy Frenchman, Martin was not there to complain, on the contrary.
“This is the second time I will participate in these races after last year, recalled the 10th in the Tour de France. So it’s a sign that I wanted to come back, despite the wait at customs. I am still motivated for these races. »
The holder of a master’s degree in philosophy was talking about the 12th Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal, WorldTour events contested on Friday and Sunday.
Although he had the Canadian races on his agenda, Pogačar preferred to rest in view of the Italian classics next month, with the defense of his crown in the Tour of Lombardy the highlight.
Van Aert, fourth on Grande Allée and second on Mount Royal, chose gravel and the Tour of Britain. New world champion, Van der Poel turned to competitions in France and Belgium to show off his iridescent jersey.
The presentation of the World Championships before the Grands Prix, a first, undoubtedly contributed, at least in part, to the absence of these three superheroes of cycling, highlighted in the Netflix series In the heart of the peloton.
In the absence of a Hollywood blockbuster, cycling enthusiasts may be treated to a high-quality auteur film, with an unpredictable script and fall (figuratively speaking!). Not to mention the presence of 11 Canadian cyclists to spice up the plot, including Michael Woods, stage winner in the last Tour, and his teammate Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), frankly impressive at the Maryland Classic, where he finished third Sunday.
“Today, these are races so famous that in any case, there is always a good level, insisted Guillaume Martin. These are not just preparation races [for the World Cup]. These are real races in themselves. »
Speaking of superheroes, Julian Alaphilippe, the d’Artagnan of cycling, needs no introduction.
Double world champion (2020 and 2021), six-time Tour de France stage winner and king of Milan-San Remo in 2019, the Frenchman from Soudal Quick-Step is packing his bags in Quebec for the first time in four years.
“I’m happy to be back in Canada for races that I love,” began the man with the goatee and high cheekbones, who took a short tour of the circuit with his teammates in the late afternoon at Quebec.
Alaphilippe has been limited to three victories since a serious fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the spring of 2022. The athlete from Saint-Amand-Montrond had won 12 during his formidable 2019 season, including two Tour stages, which he had finished in fifth place.
“There is always the desire to have results, even when things are not going so well, he assured. It’s no surprise to report that the performance isn’t what I’d like it to be, but I’m still patient. I continue to work hard. I still have the grinta and the morale and I know that to find the way to victory, you have to persevere. »
After his retirement from the Worlds, the fiery puncher admitted a “lack of rhythm” during his recovery at the Bretagne Classic in Plouay, where he finished 30th.
Asked to name three favourites, Alaphilippe preferred to designate his compatriot Benoît Cosnefroy as a man he would like to see on the podium in both events.
The outgoing winner of the Quebec GP would like nothing better than to revive after a so-so year.
“Even before my victory, it’s always with a lot of emotions that we arrive here in Canada every year,” said Cosnefroy.
“The ambition is the same, to win, of course. Afterwards, I unfortunately did not have many results this season. I can’t necessarily explain it to myself, but my legs were pretty good in the Grand Prix de Plouay [27th]. I hope it will go up a bit more this week and not get too tired from Sunday’s race to try to win. »
The representative of AG2R Citroën will probably have to prepare another recipe than that of last year, when he trapped the favorites with an attack just over two kilometers from the line…
Last year, Christophe Laporte had to sacrifice himself to chase after Cosnefroy for the benefit of his teammate van Aert, who ended up fourth.
Not only is the Belgian absent this time, but the slender Frenchman from Jumbo-Visma has since taken the lead, with two convincing victories and the points classification of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
After a disappointing abandonment at the Glasgow Worlds, where he was the designated leader of the French team, Laporte wants to bounce back in Quebec, his favorite course.
“I was not great at Plouay [75th]. It was the recovery and I did not feel great. I really hope to feel better on Friday. I’ve had this race in my head for a while. I really liked her last year. I want to do well. »
So does Greg Van Averma, although the 38-year-old veteran knows he’s lost his legs from the heyday that led him to an Olympic gold medal and a record nine Grand Prix podiums, including two victories in Montreal.
“My level is still correct, but to win, the others are very strong,” admitted the one who runs on maple syrup here. But I have a lot of work at home and I had a good summer [of training]. I didn’t do the Tour de France, but I did a course at altitude anyway and I hope to be good here. »
And if he is not at his best for his swan song abroad, the Belgian will be honored to support his teammate Cosnefroy. It wouldn’t be the first time a supporting role stole the show in a repertory film.
The organization of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal is proud to count on five of the first ten in the general classification of the Tour de France. Briton Adam Yates, teammate of Tadej Pogačar at UAE Team Emirates, took third place after wearing the yellow jersey for five stages. There would have been a sixth if the French David Gaudu (9th) had not been injured in a fall in training last week. Fortunately, Groupama-FDJ will be able to count on Valentin Madouas, who raised his arms in Plouay. Eight stage winners in the Grande Boucle will ride in Canada. The Dane Kasper Asgreen was to be there too, but he forfeited.
Benjamin Perry is the only rider who dragged his bike Tuesday morning at the Montreal airport. A last-minute guest following the withdrawal of Canadian champion Nickolas Zukowsky, the 29-year-old Ontarian will be one of two veterans of the Canadian national team along with Pier-André Côté of Lévis. The two colleagues have been looking for a new job since the announced dissolution of their Human Powered Health training.
“I don’t know what awaits me, but I have other avenues,” Perry said. I have a university degree in business. I can ride other types of bikes or work for a team or a company in the cycling sector. If I find another team, so much the better, but there is still plenty of time. »
Of note, Perry did the entire interview in French, a legacy of his 85-year-old grandmother, originally from Gaspé…