In the shoes of a couple of top cyclists

(Montreal) The reality of a high level athlete is sometimes difficult to understand for the members of his entourage. It is less so when the athlete’s partner practices his sport at a high level. This is the case of Lily Plante, track cyclist and Pier-André Côté, road cyclist, who have shared their lives for nearly two years.

Mutual aid and support are the advantages that emerge most from this relationship, according to them. A unique asset that is extremely valuable for the Plante-Côté couple.

“It’s crazy how much it helps because we have the same reality. Pier-André is a bit older than me, so he also has a bit more experience. He can give me advice and that helps me a lot. When one or the other is less well, we are able to be rational to help each other,” Plante points out from the outset.

“When we talk to our parents, they often say we’re tired and we need to rest, but that’s not always what we want to hear,” she adds.

Pier-André Côté has a speech quite similar to his partner. The 25-year-old cyclist likes to hear Lily’s comments after his races to get his feet back on the ground.

“It’s easy to understand the reality of the other, especially when we have bad times. Cycling is a sport of ups and downs and it’s good to support each other on these occasions,” he said.

“We help each other put things into perspective. When I’m in a stage race where nothing is going well, it’s easy to think it’s all bad. On the other hand, the other has already been in a similar situation and she is able to put everything into perspective. If my partner hadn’t been in the cycling world, it would be more difficult to talk about these things. »

However, the distance remains a major challenge as Pier-André finds himself in Europe for a long part of the summer while Lily trains mainly near Milton, Ontario. Luckily for them, technology helps enormously to stay close to each other despite the distance and time differences.

“We manage to manage all that well, but it remains difficult. We’ve been together for two years and in the first year, we haven’t seen each other for eight out of twelve months. With the joys of technology, we still manage to talk to each other every day, ”consoles Lily Plante.

Playing another’s sport

Track cycling and road cycling are similar and completely different sports at the same time. Through their union, Lily Plante and Pier-André Côté have had more of a chance to practice each other’s sport. And both find their account.

The couple was also able to train together for the Canadian Road Championships last June, where Pier-André won the national title. As for Lily, the 21-year-old returned to road competition there for the first time since 2019.

“At the Canadian Championships, Pier-André really wanted to win. We analyzed the routes together. I am lucky to have him as a mentor, even if it is not at all (the dynamic) of our relationship. He has a big heart and he always gives back to others,” said Plante, who finished 29^e in line racing.

And the opposite ? Pier-André, the track rider, is that a possibility?

He practiced track cycling when he was younger, but obviously put this discipline aside in recent years to focus on the road. However, during a visit to Trexlertown, Pennsylvania earlier this year to accompany Lily to a competition, he couldn’t resist doing a few laps, much to Lily’s delight.

“He wasn’t supposed to race, but he managed to do ProAm races and he really enjoyed it. I’m slowly trying to get him to try the track because he would be really good. I like to give him advice and add challenges to him,” exclaims his companion.

Pier-André also appreciated the experience, saying that even on leave, you can’t prevent a competitor from competing.

“The Bromont velodrome will be a great opportunity to be able to go on the track close to home. I needed a break after the Nationals, I followed Lily to Pennsylvania and couldn’t help but run some errands. It was great ! »

The union of Lily Plante and Pier-André Côté clearly brings a lot of positives to the duo. The two athletes had, in closing, beautiful messages to convey to their partner.

“I admire his drive. I saw him train for the Canadian Championships knowing he could win,” Lily said admiringly. “He got up every morning and worked non-stop for his goal. He is dedicated to his sport and he has a big heart, especially towards young people. He offers them to ride with him, he gives them advice and that’s really a great quality as an athlete. That’s nice to look at ! »

“Lily is extremely persistent. She had a pretty humble beginning and she didn’t take it all when she was younger, but she kept struggling and it’s doing so well now. She is the Pan American champion in the team pursuit and at the Madison. I’m really proud of that, ”concluded Pier-André, proud of his partner.