Chasing the Pro Dream

Stuart Wight of Riverview, New Brunswick, is living the bike racer’s dream life right now, racing his bike in Belgium with aspirations to one day race his bike professionally. This young junior-aged racer is currently based in Tielt-Winge, Belgium as part of the Canadian Cycling Association’s junior men’s European racing program. Wight, 18, races for the Hot Tubes Junior Development Team based out of Shirley, Massachusetts.

Between racing, recovering, and traveling, Wight sat down at his computer to answer a few questions for us about bike racing and his goals:

You’re in Belgium right now with a National Team project. Tell us how this is going?
I’ve been in Belgium for about a month now, the first two weeks were with my Hot Tubes teammates, where we raced in Holland, Belgium and France. After those two weeks they went home, and the rest of the National Team flew in. Unfortunately I developed some pneumonia in the first race I did here. I continued racing for a few more races as I thought it was just a cold, but it got worse and forced me to take about 10 days off. So basically, I’m just starting back now, and my first big race since being sick will be the Tour de Pays de Vaud in Switzerland. I’m feeling strong again and can breathe, so I’m confident things will go well, and everyone on the trip is really fun to be around which always makes races more enjoyable!
I gather from your website that you spend a lot of time racing in Europe. Can you tell us about the differences you see between racing in Europe and North America?
This year I have spent the majority of my time in Europe, and have started to get a sense of how the races work over here. Europe is really the Mecca of cycling in the world and it shows in how many riders you will find at races, usually between 100 and 150. In North America that would be a surprising turn out to even the biggest races for amateurs. The races in Europe seem to be more mentally exhausting than in North America, as there is so much chaos for the whole race. I think that is the thing that makes the races in Europe harder; it’s not so much that the races are way faster, just more tiring.
Care to tell us about your season goals?
My season goals this year really revolve around the World Championships in Italy. If everything goes well there I feel like I can get a really good result in the time trial. I would love to get into the top 5, so I guess we’ll say that’s the ultimate goal. For the road race, I’m probably a pretty unknown rider compared to the big favorites, but that could play to my advantage and in a road race as crazy as the World Championships, anything can happen.
How did you get involved with bike racing?
I got involved with bike racing when I was 12. My mom signed me up for the kids race at a local criterium. It was cold, raining, windy, and at the time I felt it was the hardest thing I had ever done. I won the race, and instantly said to my mom, between very deep breaths, that I wanted to start racing all the time. I was hooked and nothing has really changed since then!
What have been some of the lessons you’ve learned on the bike?
I think the biggest lessons that you learn from bike racing have to do with work ethic, loyalty and team work. You have to have such drive to get out on the bike for as many hours as we do every week, in any kind of weather and even when other things are going on in our lives. I’m sure this has helped in my every day life in being accountable and doing my best. You also learn how to work together in different groups in challenging times. It’s really cool to know you can put so much trust in your teammates and know they would put that trust in you too.
Tell us about your biggest success on the bike so far?
I would say my biggest success in racing came last year during the Tour de l’Abitibi Coupe des Nations in Val d’Or Quebec. On stage two I was in the break all day with about 15 others. As we came into the finishing town to start the 3 laps of a 3.3km finishing circuit I attacked and got a good gap on my own. I was able to hold off all the chasers to take a beautiful solo win in front of everyone screaming for me in my Canadian team kit. It was certainly a magical win and one of the greatest feelings I could imagine.
You’re still a young bike racer, what are your ultimate bike racing goals/dreams?
Ultimately I would like to see myself racing bikes professionally on a ProTour team. I also want to compete for Canada at the Olympics, with my first real shot at that being 2016, but probably more realistically in 2020.
After this National Team Project, where will we see you racing next?
After this project I actually go home for two weeks. It’s been over 4 months since I’ve been home, so it will be great to get home and caught up with friends and family. After those two weeks I head west for the National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. After that I get back with my Hot Tubes teammates for the Tour of the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
What type of rider do you see yourself as? sprinter? climber? all-rounder?
I’m a pretty small guy, so I can go uphills very well. I also worked on my time trial position and focus a lot over the winter, and that is becoming more of a strength for me as well.
What about away from the bike, how do you relax and recharge?
Away from the bike…hmm, that’s a tricky one! When I’m traveling on my own, time away from the bike can be pretty boring, but with teammates it’s a lot better! Hot Tubes is known for some craziness, even during stage races we like to have fun between stages, so that helps pass the time. Last year in a big stage race, we were all caught playing an epic game of wiffle ball between a time trial and road race. We lined up for the afternoon’s stage with a few scrapes and bruises, but I think mentally it’s good to get away from races and let your mind relax. When I’m home, it’s always nice to catch up with my friends as much as I can, and spend time with my family. I’m starting to appreciate this time much more as I spend more and more time away from home!