However, Jude Dufour saw others. Coach of the Cyclone club for over 25 years, he has enabled several mountain bikers to reach the highest peaks, from Elsie Torresan to Léandre Bouchard, via Catherine Fleury and Rébecca Beaumont.
“Honestly, he is a young World Cup labeled. It’s been 28 years since I see young people progress in this sport and in the space of a year, it is the biggest progression I saw in an athlete. It’s incredible, ”said Jude Dufour, an interview.
At 20, Raphaël Piché is in his second year among those under 23 (U23), on a possibility of four. He therefore still has time before him before finding himself in the elite peloton, always high.
“There remains a small progression to make and we will end up in good parameters. I would not dare to make a comparison with Léandre Bouchard, but if we maintain the progression curve, we will find ourselves somewhere in these waters, “added the coach Dufour, referring to the one who no longer really needs presentation on the national mountain bicycle scene.
Recall that Léandre Bouchard participated in the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in 2016, in addition to putting on the Canadian champion titles, including the last in 2024.
The Almatois also shone at the Canada Games in 2013 in Sherbrooke. Triple gold medalist, he would subsequently set up on a national and international scale. Two other cyclones also had success at the Canada Games; Anne-Julie Tremblay won three gold medals in 2017, while Rébecca Beaumont obtained money in 2009.
[ À LIRE: Raphaël Piché ira aux Jeux du Canada ]
Supported by the Specialized QCX team, Raphaël Piché finds himself in a select club.
“Possibly, he will have to be recruited by a professional team, I am convinced,” raised Jude Dufour. He is definitely a young person who has the potential to participate in world championships in the coming years. It is his second year U23, it is remarkable. He has everything you need, he will now need support and visibility. We know that our sport is not easy in terms of funding, but we haven’t finished hearing about it. ”
A motivated young
And the good deal is that the Chicoutimian does not have to get his ear to complete his training or make the sacrifices that characterize the life of a high -level athlete.
“He’s a young person who has a personality to ridersaid Jude Dufour. He has no negative anxiety, his stress is positive. The races do not bother him. He does not have anxiety that one can see in certain athletes and on which one must work upstream. I have a lot of good words to say about this young person. ”
But could these comparisons with these great athletes in mountain bicycle in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean be heavy on the shoulders of Raphaël Piché? Coach Judy seems to have clearly identified his protégé.
“The pressure does not stick it to him. I really think it does it for the right reasons; he loves riderhe repeated. A season is a share of happiness and misfortunes, which is normal. In the case of Raphaël, he is in happiness. He is confident, he is very mentally, he is happy to be on his bike. When you see a progression like this, it is encouraging. ”
Hopes of medals
In Saint-Jean de Terre-Neuve, Raphaël Piché composes the Quebec team with Maxime St-Onge (Saint-Denis-de-Brompton) and Mika Comaniuk (Lachine). A delegation that could well win in team relay on Friday, but before it is each for you, Wednesday afternoon, for the Olympic cross-country. The short circuit completes the schedule on Sunday.
“Raphaël did not beat his two teammates much throughout the season, but he approached it. There is a medal potential for him and in relay, I think that the Quebec team is the strongest, “analyzed Jude Dufour, indicating that the course of Olympic cross-country is more technical, with a rather reasonable positive drop.