January 29/22 20:25 pm - Interview with Maghalie Rochette

Posted by Editoress on 01/29/22
 

Earlier today, Maghalie Rochette finished seventh in the Elite women's race at the Cyclo-cross world championships. She spoke with us afterwards about her race, and how she was feeling about seventh place, and as well about her season [see our race report Here]. This is Maghalie's last race of the 2021-22 cyclo-cross season, but she also revealed to us that she will be rejoining the Mountain Bike World Cup circuit for this 2022 season.

Maghalie Rochette and Inge Van Der Heijden (Netherlands)

Elite Women's Photo Gallery

"I'm feeling really weird right now. A part of me is really proud of what David and I achieved this year. I think I had my best season ever. We proved that I could compete with the best in the world a few times. I also believe that we gained some respect in Europe and from the European riders. Cyclo-cross is not a Canadian sport and I think we've shown that we can still compete at that level, so a part of me is really proud of that and that we showed up today at the world championships healthy and very much ready.

"I also very grateful that I got to experience a world championships in North America. The American cyclo-cross community is the community I grew up racing with. Being able to race here today and how loud the crowds were, was absolutely crazy. It was such a crazy feeling. It might be a once in a career thing, but I was able to soak it in really well.

"But I also feel a little bit disappointed. I think I had a shot at the podium ... it was a big goal, but it was realistic to think that, and I missed out on that. I feel a bit disappointed because of that. But at the same time, if I look back at my racing ... I've been going through this race in my head many times since we finished, and I don't think I would do anything different, if I could do it again.

Elite Women's Photo Gallery

"The only thing that I am completely bummed about is that I completely messed up the start. That is a bummer because it put me pretty far back in the beginning of the race. I did stay calm, thinking 'that's fine, it's not the end of the world'. Then I went super hard and actually made it up to fifth place and pretty close to the group of the first four girls. But it was a long race and I wasn't able to keep that spot.

"So I keep wondering what would of happened if I had a good start? What would have happened if I was on the first row? For us, having Nationals cancelled was the difference of me being on the first row versus being on the second row. Because we were the only country that had Nationals cancelled, so that's a 100 UCI points I was missing. So part of me keeps wondering 'what if', but you go nowhere with ifs...

"Part of me also feels a bit empty ... we've been dreaming about this goal for so long and now it's over and it didn't go the way I wanted. But I think in general, what an experience and, at the end of the day, we can be proud of showing up here, feeling at the best of my abilities and not collapsing under pressure. Because there was a bit of pressure I was putting on myself to do well here.

"So I think I was still able to deliver a good fight and really race well today. So seventh in the end, it's not bad, and I don't think I can be mad about that. But I have big goals and I want to reach higher, so next year. Canada still has a chance for a medal tomorrow, and I look forward to cheering on Ian Ackert in the men's Junior race.

"If it doesn't happen this time, it might happen in another year, and I don't think Canada has ever been in a position where we could even dream of having a medal, and now we are in that position, with Ava Holmgren and myself, and maybe Ian. Just being in that position, where we can realistically believe that we can have a medal ... that's a huge step for Canada in cyclo-cross, and I think we can be proud of that."