Pier-André Côté bet on him by accepting a “demotion” to the continental level with Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) Academy. At the end of a more than convincing season, the cyclist from Lévis is rewarded with a two-year contract with the main team which has the ambition of returning to the WorldTour in 2026.
“It’s the bet I took and I’m happy that it paid off,” said Côté, Friday afternoon, on the massage table after an excellent sixth place in the fourth stage of the CRO Race, where he has established himself as the strong man of IPT since the start of the week in Croatia.
“It’s certain that they trusted me. I think I did everything necessary to convince them on my side. »
The 27-year-old rider knew since the spring that his future with IPT was almost assured. Last year, the then Pan American champion learned of the sudden disappearance of Human Powered Health, the team with which he was preparing to compete for a sixth season. Due to a lack of space in the first team, owner Sylvan Adams offered him this lifeline with the Academy.
“I really wanted to secure my future, prepare myself for the future and actually race without this pressure, asking myself: crime, is this my last year on a bike? confided the Quebecer. With the season I had, I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen, but in cycling, as long as the ink isn’t on the paper, it’s always stressful. »
“Direct in”
Côté has already competed the majority of his 41 days of racing in the colors of IPT, which still plays at ProTeam level (second division). In a teammate role, he had a solid spring, even rising to tenth place in the general classification of the Baloise Belgium Tour.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @ISRAELPREMIERTECH
Pier-André Côté
“I was going there to ‘get experience’, but I was also very helpful and they really appreciated the work I was doing. I showed that I had my place with the pro team. »
He followed that up with a victory in the time trial at the Canadian championships in Saint-Georges before helping teammate Michael Woods to the road title, where he took silver.
The native of Gaspé got off to a flying start at the end of the summer, finishing fifth at the Druivenkoers–Overijse classic (Belgium) after an 86 km breakaway.
He continued his momentum at the World Championships in Zurich, where he surprised last month with a 19e time for the time trial, an event for which he had not specifically prepared.
“The top 20 was my ambitious goal, if everything went well technically and tactically and I had no problems. I couldn’t have asked for better, it was straight into it. »
This performance fuels new goals for the clock, in particular with the senior management from which he will benefit with IPT. “If I show up for a stage race, there’s no reason why I can’t do top 10, top 5, and be there for the general. This is a step in the right direction. »
Still serving Woods for the road event, he achieved the best Canadian result by finishing 44e12 minutes from the Slovenian tornado Tadej Pogačar.
Up to one decision
After successes in Saguenay (three stages) and Beauce (two), he still has to “slam a real one” in Europe, as he repeated in an interview with The Press Friday. A few hours after the end of the queen stage in Labin, he regretted his position at the start of the final 1.8 km climb on cobbles.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @ISRAELPREMIERTECH
Pier-André Côté
This may sound harsh on myself, but I don’t ride my bike to finish sixth or seventh. It still shows that I knock on the door every day, with good runners around me.
Pier-André Côté
In the pouring rain and the cold the day before, Côté, mouth wide open, tried to provoke a selection at the top of the penultimate climb while he was part of a group of around ten competitors in pursuit of the American Brandon McNulty (UAE), future winner and leader in the general classification.
“It could have been the right one. I’m one person away from sitting down, it’s a bit too much of a challenge and I can maybe finish second behind McNulty, who was untouchable [jeudi]. I need to trust myself more. I’m one decision away from making a real one. »
With two more stages promised to the sprinters on Saturday and Sunday, Côté will probably return to the service of Israeli champion Oded Kogut, with an eye on the intermediate sprints and their bonus seconds. Now sixth overall, he is only one second behind fifth place, IPT’s initial objective before the start. With his new contract in hand, the future actuary intends to respond once again.