Road cycling | The new adventure of Pier-André Côté

When he started professionally, cyclist Pier-André Côté suggested that he was not necessarily aiming for a long career. Studying actuarial science and attracted to engineering, the former skier and hockey player had several interests. In reality, he was holding back his cycling dreams for fear of being disappointed.

Seven years later, it’s no longer there at all. Last summer, the Pan American road champion told his girlfriend, herself a cyclist, how fulfilled he was by his life on two wheels. “I couldn’t be happier, I see myself doing this for another decade,” he told her.

Shortly after, Côté received an email from his team summoning him to a mandatory online meeting. Obviously, the news would not be good, but he never expected such a shock: Human Powered Health (HPH) was dissolving its men’s section at the end of the year.

It wasn’t the end of the world, but the 26-year-old Quebecer had carved out a nice niche for himself in this solid American ProTeam category (second division). He had become a sure bet in his fifth campaign with HPH.

With his track record, his versatility and his reputation, he had an attractive application to submit to other teams, but at this time of year, places are rare in professional cycling.

A few WorldTour and ProTeam teams have shown interest in him, while asking him to be patient in case a big fish suddenly becomes available towards the end of the year. In September, the megamerger announced then aborted between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step had the potential to flood the market with around twenty additional renowned riders.

In the circumstances, Côté judged that one is better than two. In mid-November, he therefore accepted the offer from Israel-Premier Tech Academy, the development training of Israel-Premier Tech (IPT), for which his compatriots Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin play. After five years in a ProTeam, the 2022 Canadian champion will ride in a continental team, the third division of the International Cycling Union (UCI).

“A very good runner”

Côté is currently one of four “Academicians” in Marbella, southern Spain, for Israel-Premier Tech’s first training camp, the ProTeam. The idea is to allow him to familiarize himself with his new environment, new equipment and teammates that he will meet in competition during the next season. Because it is obvious that the senior management of IPT, which is aiming for a return to the WorldTour in 2026, does not see its recruit as a continental level or developing rider.

“I told him: ‘Work hard, do what you have to do and you will join our team next year,’” owner Sylvan Adams assured last month. I met him in Girona and he is an intelligent and grateful young man. I was impressed. The rest of his career is important to us. »

According to the boss, Côté’s contract was on the 20^e and last available at the Academy. At the top level, the young American Riley Sheehan, a trainee since August and surprise winner of Paris-Tours, won the 30^e agreement, the maximum authorized by the UCI.

The owner recalls that Derek Gee, a road partner of Côté in Girona, left the Israel Cycling Academy before his legendary Giro last spring.

Pier-André Côté considers himself privileged to join the Israeli-Canadian squad, of which he already knows several of the members, which will facilitate his adaptation.

“My schedule will be similar, I probably have more efficient equipment, a better-oiled structure for what I see at the moment,” rejoiced the Lévis athlete. Everything seems to be going more quickly and efficiently. I really feel like I made the right decision to join the ProTeam, that’s for sure. »

” I can not complain ”

Until then, the protégé of coach Christine Gillard intends to put his experience to good use with his new colleagues, of whom he will be at least four years senior.

“And you shouldn’t think that I’m going to be depressed in the meantime. If you look next to my name on my license, it says “conti”, but we’re not going to arrive at the race with mom’s car and take the bike out of the suitcase… The whole structure is also professional, otherwise more [que celle de HPH]. »

The native of Gaspé expects to participate in tough events from the beginning to the end of the year, starting with the first, Le Samyn, a Belgian semi-classic presented at the end of February. True to his habits, he wishes to maintain a constant condition to be able to shine at any time.

The only constraint with the Academy: its contractual status will prevent it, by UCI regulations, from taking part in WorldTour events. “In any case, the ones I did last year, I can count them on the fingers of one hand: Quebec, Montreal and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where I fractured my scaphoid,” recalled the one who also missed the World Championships due to a COVID-19 infection.

As he expected, Côté had to accept a salary reduction, a lesser evil given the prospects at IPT.

“ [Avec HPH], I was part of the pillars, so I think that I really had a better salary than I would have had elsewhere, he tempered. I really can’t complain with the conditions I currently have on the development team. They were creative and welcomed me with open arms. They wanted to make sure I could maintain the same lifestyle and habits as a professional athlete. »

In short, Côté bet on him. “Then they bet on me,” he added straight away. I still have to deliver the goods. »

The actuarial profession will wait

At the age of 20, Pier-André Côté began a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science at Laval University on September 7, 2017. The next day, he took part in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. The youngest starter in the WorldTour event, the representative of the Canadian national team slipped into the breakaway of the day before giving up after 135 km. His baccalaureate is still in progress; He has four courses left to complete it. The resident of Girona, Spain, is continuing his studies remotely, taking his exams at an English learning center under the supervision of a local teacher. This training represented great insurance when the rug slipped from under his feet at HPH last summer. “It’s a lot less stressful knowing that if something ever happens, I can quite easily find a really stable, very well-paid job,” he agreed. I’ll love to be an actuary when the time comes, but to be honest, I don’t want to be one tomorrow morning. I really like what I’m doing at the moment. »