Competing in track and distance running for Oak Bay High, Jay Lamoreux knew he had the lungs.
But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until he switched tracks, from the Jack Wallace Memorial at Oak Bay High to the Westshore Velodrome, that Lamoreux found his way in cycling.
The 22-year-old will represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in both track and road cycling, starting with the menB次元官网网址檚 4,000-metre team (four-person) pursuit on April 4 at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Gold Coast. HeB次元官网网址檒l then lineup along side some of the worldB次元官网网址檚 best for the (road cycling) individual time trial on April 10 and the road race on April 15.
Warming-up with 馃嚚馃嚘
B次元官网网址� UCI Track Cycling (@UCI_Track)
For Lamoreux itB次元官网网址檚 the latest world-class event, as heB次元官网网址檚 competed for Canada on the World track cycling tour and with national road cycling development program, team Race Clean. In early March Lamoreux helped Canada to a best-ever eighth place finish in the menB次元官网网址檚 team pursuit at the World Track Cycling Championships held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
B次元官网网址淓ighth is a big accomplishment for us with so many good nations, and so much ground to make up,B次元官网网址� Lamoreux said. B次元官网网址淥ur goal was to hit top-8, to hit a four minute time, and we did that.B次元官网网址�
Following the World Championships Lamoreux and the national team held a training block in Calp, Spain. ItB次元官网网址檚 a chance to immerse in the culture of pro cycling, he said.
We are sending a 馃挘 squad to 馃實 next week. Who's ready to cheer on 馃嚚馃嚘?
B次元官网网址� Cycling Canada (@CyclingCanada)
Full team 馃憠
B次元官网网址淓very ride youB次元官网网址檙e out on you see three or four pro teams training, itB次元官网网址檚 great to be part of.B次元官网网址�
For Lamoreux, the future is a choice between two roads. Choose track cycling and follow a dream of competing at the Olympics, or sign with a domestic continental team and chase a career in the pro peloton. To do both concurrently is not an option, as the seasons donB次元官网网址檛 compliment each other.
B次元官网网址淐ompeting at the Commonwealth Games has been a goal and a dream of mine, it is a stepping stone on the way to the Olympics, a way to check-in and see how youB次元官网网址檙e doing against the rest of the world,B次元官网网址� Lamoreux said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another chance to get a large games under your belt, IB次元官网网址檒l take a lot away from it.B次元官网网址�
Training all year round would the leave the rider fatigued. Currently, his affiliation with the national track cycling team does include some additional road racing and training with Race Team Clean. Mostly, Lamoreux is based out of a house with the rest of his team pursuit teammates in Milton, Ont.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had offers, certainly IB次元官网网址檝e considered going with a continental team,B次元官网网址� said Lamoreux, who raced for Trek Red Truck two years ago. B次元官网网址淲ith track cycling youB次元官网网址檙e peaking in the winter, which is when road cyclists are taking time off to recover.B次元官网网址�
Otherwise, he can be seen chasing the best Strava times for local hills here in Victoria.
One thing about the Commonwealth Games is the absence of a great number of top cycling nations.
That said, the host country is loading its national cycling team with pro talent. Team Canada will dodge one bullet, as Australian time trial specialist Rohan Dennis (BCM Racing), a former Commonwealth Games silver medal winner, wonB次元官网网址檛 be there. However, 2016 Paris-Roubaix winner Matt Hayman will be, and so will HaymanB次元官网网址檚 UCI World Tour teammates Alex Edmund son (Australian national champion) and Cam Meyer from pro team Mitchelton-Scott, as well as Mitch Docker of Ryder HesjedalB次元官网网址檚 former team Education First-Drapac (known previously as Garmin-Slipstream).
ItB次元官网网址檚 a big stage for a kid who got into the sport through some summer touring with his dad, some races in and some fall cycle cross. He credits Lister Farrar at the local Tripleshot Cycling club for introducing him to the competitive side of the sport.
It got serious when he joined the Westshore VelodromeB次元官网网址檚 FastTrack program led by 1992 track cycling Olympian Kurt Innes.
Following the Commonwealth Games Lamoreux will return to Fairfield on May 5. Look for him to chase some of the popular local Strava times such as the Observatory and Mount Douglas.
reporter@saanichnews.com
