Numainville eyes worlds in 2013

Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies rider Joelle Numainville is one of Canada’s strongest road racers with an all-round ability to time trial, climb and sprint. This year she is focused on getting a top result at the world championships held in Florence, Italy.

“I hope to perform well at the world championships and focus more on my time trial,” Numainville told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “I will definitely be at the nationals this year too.

“I’m not sure what my first race will be, but it will probably be in California. I don’t have any details at the moment in terms of my schedule. I will know more in a few weeks.”

Numainville had one of her strongest seasons last year and earned a start for the road race at the London Olympic Games. She placed third at the national championships, behind her teammate and winner Denise Ramsden and Clara Hughes. She has stood on many podiums at well-known races in North America, top-10 finishes at international events and won the Pan American Championships in Mexico in 2009.

She lives and trains year-round in Montreal, adding running into her cross-training schedule during the winter months. She will join her teammates from February 5-15 in Oxnard, California for a pre-season training camp.

“I’m very excited to see the sun and train in the warm weather,” Numainville said. “I only have this training camp on my schedule for this winter. I train mostly in Montreal. School is almost done by the end of the winter. It’s a priority for now.”