Oh Canada | Cyclingnews

My teammate Elodie and I show off the new (Image credit: Specialized Menikini)

Index to all entries

I am off to Montreal for a couple of weeks racing with our partner team based in Quebec, Specialized Menikini. I was greeted at Montreal airport by Gerard, who was to be my new team director. My first question for him was 'so when is my first race here?' His reply was quite a shock, he said: 'You'll stay with me and my family tonight and then depart tomorrow at 9 am for a flight to Russelville, Arkansas via Detroit, Michigan. You will meet your new team members and staff there; and commence a five stage tour on Thursday'.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

It was 4 pm by the time we reached Gerard's home and I was keen to put my bike together and get out for a light one hour spin. It took me the good part of an hour to unpack my bike and find the correct tools to assemble it, adjust the brake callipers for my training wheels and then replace the speedo magnets and sensors. I found a nice rolling road alongside a lake and I rode for 30 minutes into a head wind before turning around to spin home at a high cadence.

I'm not sure about the road rules here in Canada, I find it strange that there are so many stop signs on the main roads. I'm not sure who has right of way, everyone stops and looks at each other. I arrived back to the house to find that Gerard's wife (who is French speaking) had cooked up a lovely dinner! Gerard's parents were over for dinner, who also speak French, so I didn't really understand any of the table conversation, plus I was really tired so I didn't try too hard to get involved.

When I arrived in Arkansas I met my race manager Christoph, who is Swiss but speaks fluent French and Italian…and a little English. My first question for him was, 'how far is the drive to the hotel?' His reply was 'Two ower' I thought he mustn't have understood my English so I asked again and he said 'Yes, two, two ower'. I couldn't believe it, I was so tired and hungry, there was no food offered on either of the two flights and my transfer in Detroit was short so I hadn't eaten since 8am.

Amazingly I slept through until 8am! Jet-lag has not really hit me yet, hopefully it won't! The hotel breakfast was typically the American style, bagels, waffles with maple syrup and cup cakes! Luckily I had my Pro-Soma sponsored meal replacement powder which is jam packed full of vitamins and energy! I live on this tasty chocolate powder during racing blocks to ensure that I get enough calories and sustained energy.

Rochelle Gilmore...