Pierrick Naud heads to nationals after a busy spring
“I have had a good last month of racing, four tours (stage races) in four weeks,” said the defending Canadian national criterium champion Pierrick Naud of Garneau-Quebecor. Naud recently wrapped up the Tour de Beauce with a strong showing on the final stage. He was able to make the day’s early move on an infamous 12.4-km course in St. Georges, Que. The circuit was up and down, so hard that 48 riders didn’t finish the final stage. Naud was able to jump in the early move on what was his 22nd day of racing in the past month.
During the preceding five weeks of racing, Naud finished second overall at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, and then endured a rather tumultuous week at the Tour de Beauce. “I had some good results over in Europe with the national team and I finished on the podium of every stage in Saguenay,” reflected Naud, “so I think if I can recover from all of the racing I should do well at the national road race.”
His progression as a bike racer through the under-23 ranks has been steady and consistent. He’s won many local races throughout Quebec and was a crucial facet in unseating the 36-year-old speed record at the Mardi Lachine criterium series near Montreal. He was the final lead-out man in the Garneau-Quebecor train for none other than Simon Lambert-Lemay who set the record in August 2013. His versatility as a cyclist is what makes Naud such a dangerous rider in the bunch. He’s without doubt a dark horse for the upcoming Canadian national championships. While Naud’s target for the road race at nationals is ambitious, it is entirely realistic. “My goal for nationals is to finish on the podium in the road race,” said Naud.
Given the challenge of balancing school and racing, Naud’s season has been remarkable. “My season this year started a little late because I was in school, but I worked really hard on the home trainer with my coach and I was able to improve my numbers,” said Naud. It always helps to have a strong support network as well. His squad, Garneau-Quebecor, had budgeted some racing in California in early April, which helped kick start Naud’s year. He was able to build on his trainer fitness and find his rhythm in the bunch incredibly fast. At the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Naud won the Stage 3 criterium in the Canadian national criterium champion’s jersey. It is one of the more technical criteriums in the U.S. circuit with nine corners in the 1.8-km circuit. Naud’s win there demonstrates his aptitude for fast, technical racing.
Following the Canadian nationals, Naud will target the Tour of Alberta with the hopes of gaining selection to the Canadian national team for September’s WorldTour races in Montreal and Quebec. Given Naud’s form of late and the tactical advantage of having a strong squad in the race, his chances are looking good ahead of the Canadian national road race.
