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Worlds bronze medalist Simone Boilard goes pro with Twenty20

Quebec City-native moves to American UCI team for first season as an elite

27-09-2018 World Championships Junior Women; 2018, Canada; Boilard, Simone; Innsbruck;

Simone Boilard

After an impressive final season as a junior, Simone Boilard will move to the professional ranks with American UCI team Twenty20 Pro Cycling. Boilard is one of Canada’s most promising young cyclists but has stuck to the domestique scene during her young career.

Boilard, 18-years-old, is a native of Quebec City and won the Canadian junior ITT title and took home a bronze medal in the road race at the UCI World Championships in Innsbruck this past season. She was also fifth in the ITT in Innsbruck, was eighth at worlds in 2017 and won the Canadian crit championships in Saguenay.

“While Simone is only 18, she has been competitive since age three. She is very mature for her age and will easily transition into the professional ranks,” said Twenty20 general manager Nicola Cranmer.

Boilard admitted after the world championships she still has a lot to learn noting her descending, tactical and technical skills need improvement but the team is confident she can turn her tremendous talent into improvements.

“She fits the mission of the team in both high performance and development. She has the same drive that both [Chloé] Dygert and [Jennifer] Valente had at age 18. I am thrilled to be working with her. We will script a balanced season for her so she can also remain focused on her education as well as developing as an elite athlete,” Cranmer said.

27-09-2018 World Championships Junior Women; 2018, Canada; Boilard, Simone; Innsbruck;

Twenty20 has signed a number of Canadians over the years with Olympian Jasmin Duehring, Steph Roorda, former Canadian champion Annie Foreman-Mackey and Alison Jackson all having spent time with the program which has a dual focus on Olympic development and education.

“I very happy to be included on the Twenty20 roster. I believe I share the same values as the team who is always looking for excellence and hard work in both sport and academic domains. I chose Twenty20 program because I believe that it provides a great learning environment for me,” explained Boilard.

“Providing great mentors and role models inspires an ideal environment for women cyclists. Their knowledge will help me reach the highest level of cycling by giving me the opportunity to do a progressive transition from junior to elite,” said Boilard.

The team also emphasizes their athletes continue their education while pursuing their athletic ambitions. Boilard is doing her Cegep studies full-time online.

“In my family, education has always been a priority. My mom was a high school principal for many years and now she is directing a school board,” she said. “I am aware that there will be a life “after bike racing. I am very self-motivated and it requires a lot of discipline but it’s also a great challenge. Plus, I always have something to do when I am on the road waiting for the next training ride or race.”

Boilard joins a strong team of athletes at Twenty20 that includes American track star Dygart who holds the world record in the individual pursuit.