Despite a serious left knee injury suffered on Saturday during the third stage of the Giro d’Italia, which forced her to retire, Olivia Baril remains hopeful of taking the start of the Tour de France which will start from Paris on 24 July.
After receiving 25 stitches to close three wounds, including one that was so deep you could see the tendon, the cyclist from Italian continental outfit Valcar-Travel&Service has been back home in Spain since Monday.
“I’m in bed, I don’t walk very much and they’re going to take my stitches out of me in 10 to 15 days,” Paradis said during an interview on Monday. It’s going to be just that I’m ready, but I’m confident even if a lot of people aren’t.
“When he saw my knee, my doctor told me that it was certain that I would not be able to take the start, continues the 24-year-old cyclist from Rouyn-Noranda. My coach tells me to take it one step at a time. I will do everything and the announcement will be made two days before departure. If I am not able, I will be replaced and life will go on. »
An avoidable fall
On his first Grand Tour, Baril was eager to see his reaction before bad luck struck. “It was not a difficult or technical sector, and this fall could have been avoided,” she said. It’s a shame that I can’t show my form, but this incident is out of my control and it’s no use crying for hours over my fate. I had to decide what kind of athlete I was. An athlete who plays the drama or focuses on her recovery and her future. »
Winner of the jersey of best young and 9e in the general classification of the Tour de Suisse before heading to Italy, Baril showed his colors at the dawn of the two major meetings of the season.
“I showed that I had the form to be able to climb with the best,” she said. In the circumstances, it is important to show resilience. Several girls would have cried over their fate and would have forgotten a possible participation in the Tour de France. »
A dream come true
The news won’t be confirmed until the Tour de France concludes, but Baril can already assure that she will join a World Tour roster next season. “Since the age of 17, I have wanted to go to the World Tour, summed up the osteopathic student. It’s finally a good year. The process is longer when you come from North America. »
With a two-year contract in hand, Baril does not have to fear for her medium-term future even if she has to give up the next edition of the Tour de France. “If I didn’t have a team in 2023, I would be extremely stressed,” she admitted. I couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. I won my first career race and finished in 16e place at the Flèche Wallonne. I showed that I have talent when I am well framed. With good development, I have the potential to be a favorite one day. »
Logical decision
Baril will always hold an important place in his heart for Valcar-Travel&Service.
“I will always be indebted to them. While no one believed in me and responded to my requests, they gave me a chance. Without them, I don’t know if I would still be cycling. »
Will she have a pang in the heart when leaving? “I will leave yes and no. Everyone will understand that it is a logical decision when the team announces it. »
Within his new team, Baril will no longer work with his current coach and good friend Charles-Étienne Chrétien who wears the colors of the PremierTech U-23 team. “The formula worked well with Charles-Étienne, but the change is going to happen. »