<\/p>\n
Magdeleine Valli\u00e8res Mill made her return to racing at Brabantse Pijl after more than a month away, finishing 12th and, more importantly, feeling like herself again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to be back and race together with the girls again,\u201d she said, speaking to WielerFlits<\/a>, The EF Education-Oatly rider didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n With limited race days in her legs, she told Wielerflits<\/a> she had to \u201cgamble\u201d rather than burn through efforts too early. When it came back together, it ended in a sprint, in which she joked, \u201cI still have to work on that.\u201d<\/p>\n The focus now shifts to the Ardennes, where she\u2019s targeting something bigger. Valli\u00e8res Mill said she built her form through a solid block at home and altitude camp, enjoying the rhythm of training and feeling \u201cin the zone.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019t quite the same now, for her. The Sherbrooke, Que., pro can\u2019t exactly sneak away anymore given that she has the rainbow jersey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely different. You are less incognito,\u201d she said. \u201cRiders 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.\u201d There are plenty of Canucks racing Amstel Gold, too, apart from the world champ.<\/p>\n Alpecin-Premier Tech\u2019s Hugo Houle, EF Education-EasyPost\u2019s Michael Leonard and Pier-Andr\u00e9 C\u00f4t\u00e9 (NSN Cycling Team) are racing in the men\u2019s race.<\/p>\n There are also four Canadians in the women\u2019s race. Valli\u00e8res-Mill, St Michel \u2013 Preference Home \u2013 Auber93\u2019s Alison Jackson and Clara \u00c9mond, as well as Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie.)<\/p>\n You can watch the race on FloBikes.com<\/a>. Canadian Cycling Magazine<\/em> will also have a full report after, too!<\/p>\nPicking her moments<\/h2>\n
However, she said her team has multiple options when it comes to going for the dub in the upcoming events. \u201cWe have a balanced team. We are strong in the Ardennes. We certainly have several options,\u201d she said.<\/p>\nCanadians at Amstel<\/h2>\n