{"id":259004,"date":"2025-11-12T18:52:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/259004\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T18:52:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:52:18","slug":"how-well-do-you-know-magdeleine-vallieres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/259004\/","title":{"rendered":"How well do you know Magdeleine Vallieres?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keen RaceTV watchers<\/a> and EF Education-Oatly supporters know Mags from her room reviews and the tremendous pulls she has done for her teammates<\/a> in races like the Tour de France Femmes. Our team believed in her and backed her world championship ambitions. <\/a>Everyone at EF Pro Cycling was ecstatic when she pulled it off. <\/p>\n

Still, many people around the world were left wondering who this 24-year-old Canadian from Sherbrooke, Qu\u00e9bec, is when Mags attacked in the final kilometers of the world championships and soloed to her win at the summit of the Muur van Kigali.<\/a><\/p>\n

So, who is Mags? We asked her 50 questions the day after her first race in the rainbow jersey.<\/p>\n

1. Mags, how would you describe yourself?<\/p>\n

I would say I am a cyclist from Qu\u00e9bec, Canada, who has a really big passion for cycling. I\u2019m quite a disciplined person. I like routine. And I like to be surrounded by great people. Sometimes, I can be a little bit intense. I like to go to bed early. I like to do my stretching before bed. I like to eat well. I like to train really hard. I like structure.<\/p>\n

2. What is your dream job?<\/p>\n

This. I am already doing my dream job.<\/p>\n

3. How did you win the world championship road race?<\/p>\n

We were in this small break of three riders, and on the last little climb I attacked and went all in and didn’t look back. I just pushed as hard as I could on the pedals and got to the end and won.<\/p>\n

4. What was going through your mind when you crossed the finish line at worlds?<\/p>\n

I was thinking, \u201cI don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do.\u201d I saw 500 meters to go, and then it started to feel a little bit more real, but also not so real. The last 500 meters felt long. The road went slightly up to the top. I thought, \u201cNow, I guess I need to celebrate. But are they just right there? Do I have time?\u201d I was thinking about Kristen\u2019s win at the Olympics, when she just went through and didn’t do anything, because she was so focused. So, I was like, \u201cOkay, I need to do something.\u201d I didn’t think. I just lifted my arms. And then, because I was so in disbelief that it really happened, I think I just had a lot of emotion. Alison told me afterwards that my celebration was good, so I was like, \u201cOkay, I’m good. It’s fine. It was a good celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. When did you know you had won?<\/p>\n

There was this small pitch, a steeper part at the beginning, and then it started to flatten down a little bit, and I thought I had really made a mistake. I was thinking, \u201cThis is going to be a long, long way to the line.\u201d It was two K, but it was a long two K. And then I looked back, and I was sure they were going to be right there. I could not slow down in my head. I thought they were going to be right on my wheel, so I had to keep going right to the line. Even at the line, I could not believe it. I kept looking and thinking, \u201cFor sure they’re there.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. What happened the day you got your rainbow jersey?<\/p>\n

I left home at 7:30 AM, took the train to go to the airport, and then our flight was a bit delayed, and the airline decided \u2013 you bought a ticket to Bologna; let’s send you somewhere else. There were protests in Italy, so the roads were closed. We were supposed to arrive at the hotel at 2:00 PM, but arrived at 7:00 PM. So, plans changed, and I couldn\u2019t ride. But I was really excited to see the jersey and everything, so I refocused on this. It was special to see it for the first time. Then we looked at it and then did the photoshoot.<\/p>\n

7. All of a sudden you\u2019re famous. What is that like?<\/p>\n

It is really weird. I’m not used to it at all. I’m trying to hide a little bit because I feel a bit weird. I don’t really understand it. I’m the same as I always was. It is special, but I’m not used to having all this attention. I didn\u2019t realize it would be such a big thing.<\/p>\n

8. What are the most meaningful messages you have got?<\/p>\n

From Canada, I’ve had a lot of really nice messages, especially from the young riders, saying that they’re excited and now see that it’s possible to win races like worlds. I think this is the biggest thing. I didn’t realize how much of an impact this could have on others, helping people believe in themselves. That is one of the things I’m the most proud of: that it is possible to inspire people to believe that they can really do it.<\/p>\n

9. What is your best advice for young bike racers?<\/p>\n

Trust the process and believe in yourself.<\/p>\n

10. What is one of your greatest strengths?<\/p>\n

I like to be surrounded a lot by great people, and I think I can really put my trust in them, and when they believe me, I can believe in myself. That is one of my strengths: to be surrounded by great people. I think you have to be surrounded by people who make you happy, and when you’re happy, you can do great things.<\/p>\n

11. What’s your biggest weakness?<\/p>\n

My biggest weakness is maybe that I don’t have a lot of confidence in myself, but I think that is starting to change with all the belief and support I am getting from everyone.<\/p>\n

12. What’s your biggest fear?13. What inspires you?<\/p>\n

Everyone I see who is working hard and pursuing their dreams inspires me and makes me want to be better.<\/p>\n

14. What makes you angry?<\/p>\n

When people are disrespectful.<\/p>\n

15. Are you an optimist or pessimist?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m an optimist, I would say.<\/p>\n

16. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?<\/p>\n

Still racing, but starting to think about transferring to a different career. I want to start my own business. I just need an idea. Luckily, I have time. I have ten years!<\/p>\n

17. What’s your favorite time of day?<\/p>\n

When I go out for a ride.<\/p>\n

18. How do you relax?<\/p>\n

I like to read a book or watch TV.<\/p>\n

19. What do you do on a rest day?<\/p>\n

A lot of sleeping. I will take a nap and try to sleep a lot during the day. If I can, I will get a massage. I like to eat good food, maybe see some friends for a little bit, watch some TV, read, and then normally try to catch up on studies.<\/p>\n

20. Do you have a favorite post-ride snack?<\/p>\n

I often just eat bread with peanut butter and fruit, and eggs, and a lot of sourdough bread. And corn.<\/p>\n

21. Why corn?<\/p>\n

It is a good carb and it is tasty and you can make lots of good things from it.<\/p>\n

22. For how long can you do a track stand?<\/p>\n

Until I give up because I don’t want to do it anymore. One time at school, I did one for two hours, but we had to stop to go to class.<\/p>\n

23. Describe your first bike.<\/p>\n

My first bike was a little hybrid with a bike rack in the back. That’s the one we used when I rode 1000 kilometers to Gasp\u00e9sie in Qu\u00e9bec with my dad when I was eight. It had training wheels at the beginning, but after a little bit, we took them off.<\/p>\n

24. Where did you go to school?<\/p>\n

I went to the Sherbrooke \u00c9cole de Triolet. I went to a special sports program there.<\/p>\n

25. What are you studying?<\/p>\n

Business administration at the Universit\u00e9 T\u00c9LUQ. It is an online university from Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n

26. What are your hobbies?<\/p>\n

Cycling, I guess, and then reading, cooking, and learning things.<\/p>\n

27. You like to cook?28. What’s your favorite food to make?<\/p>\n

I really like to make banana bread.<\/p>\n

29. What is your favorite food?<\/p>\n

Normally, things made from corn, just normal corn, but polenta is also good. Cornbread is good. Anything with corn.<\/p>\n

30. What are three things you cannot live without?<\/p>\n

My bike. I really like my air fryer. And then, it\u2019s a hard question. Probably my phone, to be honest.<\/p>\n

31. Tea or coffee?32. What’s your go-to order at a caf\u00e9?<\/p>\n

Cappuccino with oat milk. Oatly, of course.<\/p>\n

33. What’s your favorite saying in French?34. What’s your favorite color on the rainbow jersey?<\/p>\n

I really like the red because it reminds me of Canada and the blue because it reminds me of Qu\u00e9bec. It is nice that they’re close to each other on the jersey.<\/p>\n

35. What’s your favorite clothing item?<\/p>\n

Now, it’s my new rainbow jersey. That’s for sure.<\/p>\n

36. What’s your favorite genre of movie?37. Who is your favorite author?<\/p>\n

Lucinda Riley. I really like her books. I have read all of them.<\/p>\n

38. What’s your favorite app on your phone?<\/p>\n

Either WhatsApp or Spotify, the only two I use pretty much.<\/p>\n

39. What’s your favorite flower?<\/p>\n

I don’t know much about flowers. Orchids are really pretty, and I know it takes a lot of work to make them bloom.<\/p>\n

40. Sweet or savory?41. Cats or dogs?<\/p>\n

This is a hard one. Cats, I think.<\/p>\n

42. Do you have pets?<\/p>\n

No, but my friends Ruby West and Derek Gee, who live just in front of me, have cats named Simba and Stella, and I get to go take care of them sometimes.<\/p>\n

43. If you could go to any concert, who would you want to go see?<\/p>\n

I am listening to a lot of French music right now. Charlotte Cardin from Qu\u00e9bec is an artist I am really into at the moment.<\/p>\n

44. What TV show are you currently watching?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to say. My sister just came over to Europe. When we were really young, we used to watch this high school drama\u2014902\u2026 something. We started watching it again, so I have been rewatching it.<\/p>\n

45. What does your name mean?<\/p>\n

I was named after Les \u00celes-de-la-Madeleine, the Magdalen Islands in English. I\u2019ve been once. It\u2019s really nice. There is good seafood. I want to go there again on holiday.<\/p>\n

46. Where would you most like to go on holiday?<\/p>\n

I would like to visit more of Qu\u00e9bec and go to some of the different regions that I haven’t seen yet. I like the mountains. My mum comes from Gasp\u00e9sie, and I would like to go there for a holiday in the summer to explore. I\u2019ve visited to ski, but want to go in the summer. It\u2019s really nice there.<\/p>\n

47. What was the last message you sent and to whom?<\/p>\n

It was probably to my boyfriend Cian\u2014something really random. Let me check. \u201cCall me when you have time.\u201d<\/p>\n

48. What is something you cannot do?<\/p>\n

I don’t dance very well. I can’t sing. I\u2019m not good at ball sports like tennis. I am really, really bad at things that require coordination.<\/p>\n

49. What is most important to you?<\/p>\n

The people around me, my friends, my family.<\/p>\n

50. What are the top three things on your bucket list?<\/p>\n

I want to win one of the Ardennes classics. That is on my bucket list. I want to have a business after cycling. I don\u2019t know yet what it will be, but I want to start something. And then I want to learn a new language. That is on my bucket list for the winter. Thanks to EF, I am going to try to learn Spanish this winter.<\/p>\n

Thanks, Mags! Fans are going to be seeing a lot more of you in rainbows this coming year.<\/p>\n

Magdeleine Vallieres<\/p>\n

World champion<\/a> Magdeleine Vallieres was about eight-years-old when she learned to ride a bike without training wheels. That Christmas, she got a new bike and the following summer her dad took her on a nine-day, 1,000 kilometer bikepacking trip. She credits her dad \u2013 and that trip \u2013 with creating her passion for cycling that has guided her life ever since.<\/p>\n

It led her to her first pro win in 2024, when she won the Trofeo Palma Femina in Mallorca. It led her to her rainbow jersey, which she won at the world championships in Kigali.<\/p>\n

Magdeleine is a winner and a great teammate. At just 24-years-old, she proven herself in the mountains in big stage races like the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a Femenina, the Giro d\u2019Italia Women, and the Tour de France Femmes, and one-day races like Strade Biance and Amstel Gold. Her enthusiasm for cycling drives her.<\/p>\n

Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Magdeleine rode with her local club. She raced mountain bikes, cyclocross, and road bikes as a teenager. She also learned how to track stand and to this day cannot resist the urge to track stand when she waits at red lights. As much as she loved racing in Quebec, Magdeleine soon realized that if she wanted to continue to compete and grow as a rider, she needed to go to Europe. She earned a spot with the UCI\u2019s World Cycling Center program where she spent two seasons soaking up every opportunity she encountered and then turned pro.<\/p>\n

Now racing her fourth professional season, Mags is just getting started.<\/p>\n

Full profileAnimated Chevrons<\/a><\/p>\n

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