The 21-year-old Amos athlete noticed the pandemic abruptly finish his season in February 2020, after a twelfth place total on the Sun Tour in Australia. Established in San Sebastian in Spain since final fall along with his girlfriend, the Rouynorandian bike owner Olivia Baril, Charles-Étienne Chrétien joins the Basque-Spanish circuit, particularly reserved for runners below 23 with a couple of elite runners.
There are between 180 and 200 runners at first. The circuit is sort of powerful. It's fairly concentrated. It is scattered over an space possibly giant like Abitibi-Témiscamingue, possibly even just a little smaller, and there are one to 2 and generally even three races per week, from February till the start. October, so it is a good competitors circuit with easy accessibility
, he confides.
Olivia Baril and Charles-Étienne Chrétien
Photo: Olivia Baril
Ants in the legs
The Basque-Spanish circuit presents a whole lot of aid for its one-day races. The land has nothing to do with Abitibi-Témiscamingue. It's fairly laborious to do a flat kilometer right here. It isn't as dangerous because the Pyrenees. There are 5-20 minute climbs, however no 20 or 30 kilometer lengthy passes. It's for a climber, however you continue to need to be a puncher. It isn't essentially climbers who win all races. Of course, I've a bit of labor to do for the longer climbs, however this can be a circuit that fits me.
, he argues.
Charles-Étienne Chrétien admits being just a little nervous for his first races, particularly since he would not know any rider. But after 14 months with out competitors and a winter of coaching on the roads of Spain, the proud competitor says he's prepared. This is my first race in over a yr. I'm certain I'm going to have the knife in my enamel. I'm not missing in motivation. Of course, if I come out of this season on the Basque-Spanish circuit and not using a win, I shall be disenchanted.
, he admits.
Objective: U23 worlds
The Amos athlete doesn't but know if he'll take part in races in Canada this season. He would like to be Canadian championships, the Montreal and Quebec Grand Prix and the Tour de Beauce in the event that they happen, however it's going to all rely upon the state of affairs with the pandemic. Its most important goal stays participation in the U23 world championships of the International Cycling Union, which can happen in September in Belgium. This is his final season in this class.