Q and A at the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau
Riders answer whether they would choose a poutine or crêpes, what woke them up on race day and more
At the seventh edition of the GP Gatineau, Canadian Cycling Magazine had a few questions to ask the riders who were racing the 104-km road race. Kimberley Wells of Colavita-Bianchi won the drag race to the line ahead of Joëlle Numainville and Leah Kirchmann denying the pair of Canadians victory in their home race.
RELATED: Wells triumphant at 2016 Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau
RELATED: Full results of the 2016 Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau road race
What woke you up this morning?
Leah Kirchmann (Team Canada): “The sound of construction next door.”
Annie Foreman-Mackay (The Cyclery-Opus): “A car alarm.”
Joëlle Numainville (Équipe du Québec): “I woke up on my own and headed straight to Starbucks.”
Gillian Ellsay (Trek Red Truck powered by Mosaic Homes): “Someone knocking on the door for my race license.”
Kimberly Wells (Colavita-Bianchi): “I slept in.”
What is it like racing in Canada?
Karol-Ann Canuel (Team Canada): “I am little bit more nervous because it’s at home.”
Kirchmann: “It’s not so often I get to race at home anymore so it’s special. I have my dad and grandpa out here cheering so that’s another advantage.”
Numainville: “It’s just so fun to drive to the race. My mom came to watch. I am just super excited.”
Wells: “The four of us who were traveling here made a Facebook group. We called it ‘Canadia’ and used a Mountie riding a bear as the group photo.”
A poutine or crêpes with maple syrup?
Numainville: “Crêpes, but they better be special. When Carmen Small made pancakes for me last week they weren’t nice to my stomach.”
Wells: “Ummmm, that’s a hard one but probably crêpes. Don’t tell the national coach but we were out searching for poutine yesterday.”
Crêpes were also the consensus amoung the other riders, let’s hope they got their hands on some good maple syrup after the race.
Last thing you will do before the start?
Canuel: “Talk to my boyfriend or my parents.”
Kirchmann: “I’ll usually have a small snack.”
Foreman-Mackay: “Take a pit stop. It’s usually the last thing I do before I line up.”
Numainville: “Go find my friends to start next too. In Europe it’s probably Carmen but I probably do all the talking.”
Ellsay: “Eat a gel.”
Wells: “Lie down in the car and listen to music.”
