Magdeleine Vallieres - How she became World Champion - Domestique Hotseat
Newly crowned road world champion Magdeleine Vallieres joins Aidan in the Hotseat to talk about swapping life as a full time domestique for a new role in the spotlight. From heat training for the Tour Down Under to dreaming of winning the Ardennes and defending her rainbow jersey on home roads in Montreal, Vallieres explains why 2025 feels like the start of a whole new chapter.
The Canadian talks through the surreal reality of being world champion, from rainbow nails and custom Brooks shoes to a Cannondale that arrived at 10pm the night before her first race in the stripes.
She breaks down the decisive move in Rwanda, the risk of committing to a break where “most of the girls were not working”, and the feeling of matching riders like Niamh Fisher Black and Mavi Garcia on the final climb. There is a heartfelt look at her friendship with Alison Jackson, the teammate who has seen her grow from shy junior to world champion, and the emotion of sharing that finish line hug with someone she once rode exclusively in support of.
Looking ahead, Vallieres shares her big targets: an Ardennes classic, a future GC tilt once her long climb power catches up, and the once in a lifetime chance to race the World Championships in Montreal in the rainbow jersey.
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