National criterium champion eyes ProTour events

Quebec’s David Veilleux’s has been in top form over the past month, so his fourth-place finish in the road nationals was lower than expected for him. He made up for it by winning the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic two weeks ago and then took one of the biggest wins of his career a week ago by winning the Canadian Criterium Championship. He had previously won four under-23 time trial national championships and two espoir road race titles, but the criterium crown was his first as an elite.

Now, the 22-year-old has turned his attention to the ProTour events Sept. 10th and 12th in Quebec City and Montreal, where he’s hoping to get the starts.

“It feels pretty good (to win the crit title). Lately I have been feeling strong and I was a little bit disappointed with the outcome of road nationals, so it’s very satisfying to be winning this title,” he said.

“I had a hard time during Tour of California, so the following two weeks I rested. In Philly, I wasn’t able to do the distance, but it help me peak again for nationals and the following weeks.”

“I will now focus my training on getting ready for the ProTour races in Québec city and Montréal, if I get selected. These races would be a great opportunity for me to race on my home soil, on courses I’ve been training on for the past eight years. Also, it would be the highest level I’ve raced in and it would be a great occasion to compare my fitness to that level of (competition).”