Sherbrooke, Que.’s Magdeleine Vallières Mill is heading into the defence of her world title with a new piece of equipment that is pretty darn Canadian.

The EF Education Oatly rider has worked with POC on a limited-edition version of the Cytal helmet, with the design drawing on her roots.

If you’ve just arrived back from Jupiter, Vallières Mill became Canada’s first-ever elite road race world champion when she won solo in Kigali last September. The helmet design incorporates a fleur-de-lis and maple leaf, along with references to corn and Canadian maple syrup. It also carries Vallières Mill’s racing mantra: “full commitment, no regrets.” (Also, if you didn’t know, Vallières Mill loves corn. Like, a lot. She eats it whenever she can.)

Speaking of food, check out her maple toffee recipe that she has perfected with her grandmother.

MVM on the helmet

“Being able to ride this year as the world champion, and represent the rainbow jersey is such a privilege and high point in my career so far,” Vallières Mill said. “But getting to this point is all based on where I have come from. When POC and I started creating a helmet design together, I knew immediately that I wanted my Canadian roots to shine through. The food, the people, the heritage have all played a role in forging the person and racer I am today.”

The special edition POC Cytal

The helmet uses POC’s Cytal platform, including its Mips Air Node system, adjustable fit system and ventilation-focused design. It has also received a five-star rating from Virginia Tech. It’s available in sizes, Small (50–56), Medium (54–59) and Large (56–61).

Now Vallières Mill gets to defend her title on home roads. The 2026 world championships return to Montreal for the first time in 52 years, giving the 25-year-old a very different role from the one she had in Kigali.

Last year, she surprised the world (but not her teammates, or followers of Canadian Cycling Magazine!)

Magdeleine Vallières world title shocked cycling, but not her Canadian teammates

This time, everyone will be watching her. She did say that last year she was an underdog–and that will be very different in Montreal. But she’s stoked for the incredible opportunity of defending the rainbow jersey on roads just an hour and a half from home.

Plus, she’s even raced the course as a youngster at the Jeux du Québec. “I am really trying to take it more as energy than pressure. I just want to go with it. I feel a lot more excitement than pressure right now,” she said to Canadian Cycling Magazine.

Magdeleine Vallières Mill special edition POC Cytal helmet, $470

To check out this limited edition lid, head on over to POC.com