Magdeleine Vallières Mill made her return to racing at Brabantse Pijl after more than a month away, finishing 12th and, more importantly, feeling like herself again.
“It’s good to be back and race together with the girls again,” she said, speaking to WielerFlits, The EF Education-Oatly rider didn’t sit in, either, she followed moves and even tried to slip clear. Ultimately, it was a reduced bunch sprint. Not exactly perfect for her, but good to get more race miles with some of her big goals coming up.
Picking her moments
With limited race days in her legs, she told Wielerflits she had to “gamble” rather than burn through efforts too early. When it came back together, it ended in a sprint, in which she joked, “I still have to work on that.”
The focus now shifts to the Ardennes, where she’s targeting something bigger. Vallières Mill said she built her form through a solid block at home and altitude camp, enjoying the rhythm of training and feeling “in the zone.”
She said the hilly classics are her favourites and a long-term goal, even if she expects them to be attritional. Which is perfect for a rider like her. The tougher, the better. Racing isn’t quite the same now, for her. The Sherbrooke, Que., pro can’t exactly sneak away anymore given that she has the rainbow jersey.
“It’s definitely different. You are less incognito,” she said. “Riders recognize me faster and I am less free. It is more difficult to race opportunistically and get away earlier. I have to show it now in the finale.”
However, she said her team has multiple options when it comes to going for the dub in the upcoming events. “We have a balanced team. We are strong in the Ardennes. We certainly have several options,” she said.
Canadians at Amstel
There are plenty of Canucks racing Amstel Gold, too, apart from the world champ.
Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Hugo Houle, EF Education-EasyPost’s Michael Leonard and Pier-André Côté (NSN Cycling Team) are racing in the men’s race.
There are also four Canadians in the women’s race. Vallières-Mill, St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93’s Alison Jackson and Clara Émond, as well as Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie.)
You can watch the race on FloBikes.com. Canadian Cycling Magazine will also have a full report after, too!