As he barrels around the banked velodromeB次元官网网址檚 oval track, inches separate the wheels of Jay LamoureuxB次元官网网址檚 bike from his teammatesB次元官网网址�.

As the four speeding cyclists feel the G-force pushing down on them, LamoureuxB次元官网网址檚 grip is tight, his core is braced, but ease guides his tire to keep him smooth so he doesnB次元官网网址檛 skid on the wood floor.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going 60 to 70 km/h and youB次元官网网址檙e shooting up a 40-degree slope. It feels like youB次元官网网址檙e about to blast off in the space shuttle,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of finesse in going fast and doing those big power turns. ItB次元官网网址檚 a pretty crazy experience for sure and it feels pretty good when you get it right.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 become second nature for the four-person pedalling procession that makes up CanadaB次元官网网址檚 track cycling menB次元官网网址檚 team pursuit squad set to compete at the Tokyo Summer Olympics next month.

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Lamoureux usually starts in the third position from the front. HeB次元官网网址檚 admittedly not the most muscular cyclist, so he sticks to his strength as a lasting long hauler throughout the race.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 more of an aerobic engine than anaerobic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥nce IB次元官网网址檓 on and weB次元官网网址檙e going fast, IB次元官网网址檓 pretty strong at that type of role.B次元官网网址�

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Building up that cycling capacity is something he attributes to his local roots. The Fairfield neighbourhood native first started cycling with his dad as a kid and can still be found whipping down the waterfront or frequenting the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail whenever heB次元官网网址檚 home.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fantastic place to stay fit and active, so that definitely played a role into the role I play on the team,B次元官网网址� Lamoureux said. B次元官网网址淚 think a community raises an Olympian.B次元官网网址�

Before making it to the international stage, his competitive journey began with Oak Bay HighB次元官网网址檚 cycling team.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 definitely the product of a pretty amazing place and a lot of people that have put a lot of effort into fostering that,B次元官网网址� he said.

Tokyo 2020 will be LamoureuxB次元官网网址檚 first Olympics. After the team obtained enough qualifying points to basically seal their ticket to the Summer Games back in 2019, they were in pandemic-induced limbo as they werenB次元官网网址檛 sure if Canada would send its athletes or not. With Canada also not sending the cyclists to any World Cups this year, itB次元官网网址檚 been hard to gauge where the teamB次元官网网址檚 top competition of Denmark, Italy, Australia and New Zealand are at.

But Lamoureux said heB次元官网网址檚 definitely prepared for Tokyo. When he gets to the starting line, the 25-year-old will feel some nerves, but said theyB次元官网网址檙e just the B次元官网网址渂odyB次元官网网址檚 way of getting ready.B次元官网网址� From there, itB次元官网网址檒l just be a matter of trusting in his training and his teammates.

B次元官网网址淚 just kind of turn the mind off and let the body do the work,B次元官网网址� he said.

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