After an up-and-down season, Olympian Léandre Bouchard wants to end his campaign on a good note in front of his family and friends.
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A silver medalist at the Canadian Olympic cross country championship, Bouchard obtained his best result of the season on the international scene with a 32nd place at the first World Cup of the year.
“I hope to take the energy from the crowd to end the season on a good note and put some relief on the ups and downs,” Bouchard said. A place in the Top 40 would be interesting or close to my best result. I hope to pull a rabbit out of my hat. I want to be proud and exhausted after the race.”
Victim of a significant fall during a training descent just before the first stage of the World Cup in Brazil in April 2022, Bouchard suffered after-effects again this year. The results were not pretty: five fractured ribs, dislocation of two ligaments and pneumothorax which led to contusion and bleeding in the lungs.
“My performances this year are linked to the consequences of my injury in 2022,” explained Alma’s pride. I made a quick comeback, but my injuries followed me this year. In addition, I suffered some bad luck.”
As his results were not sufficient, Bouchard will not start the short circuit cross country. In 2022, he finished in 15th place in the world championship. “Cross country is the main event and I’m going to focus on that.”
Like Bouchard, Laurie Arsenault did not have the desired season on the World Cup circuit and will miss the short circuit cross country.
“It was a pretty difficult season,” she said. I suffered several falls and injuries. I had little training. I’m back to 100 percent physically, but that’s unlikely to happen at the end of the season. My head is full of dreams and I will continue next year. At 26, I’m still young in a late-developing sport.”
Goal achieved
Ophélie Grandmont achieved her main objective this season. “I am very happy to have qualified for the U-23 World Championship in Glasgow, Scotland where I finished in 38th place. I also did a World Cup in Switzerland. At 19 years old in my first year with the U-23s, I expected there to be a big step with the junior category.
Specific goals in mind? “A Top 30 would be good and a Top 25 even better,” said the Beaupré resident who only needs 15 minutes by bike to get to Mont-Sainte-Anne. The course is very technical and especially with the rain forecast.”