David Veilleux was the first Quebecer to complete the Tour de France in 2013. Since then, he has hung up his competitive cycling shoes but continues to ride for good causes. On the eve of the 2014 Tour de France, the native of Cap-Rouge shares his memories of the Grand Boucle with us.
You knew you were going to race in the Tour de France (TDF) after your performance at the Critérium du Dauphiné, which takes place 3 weeks before the TDF. How do you prepare in such a short time for such an event?
With the results I had [winning the 1st stage and holding the yellow jersey for 4 days], there was nothing more to do, the machine was ready. We maintain, we work on volume, but a few days before the race, on the contrary, we rest to replenish our energy reserves.
Do you discuss the route with your team?
Not at that moment, because for a distance of 3400 kilometers, you don't really have a choice but to take it day by day! The preparation is done several months in advance by the team's specialists. So it's during the race itself that we discuss strategies and difficult points of the route.
Is there anything you would have liked to be better prepared for during the Tour?
The only way to be better prepared is to have done a Tour the previous year! It's quite unique to do the equivalent of one race a day for 3 weeks, and it was as hard as I expected. Because in the last three years, I've talked a lot with my teammates about their own experiences, so hearing about the race, knowing how it goes, contributes a lot to improving preparation.
Was mental fatigue sometimes stronger than physical fatigue?
Sometimes, yes. We rode an average of 5 hours a day, in tight pelotons, at high speeds, and at times it became more demanding, harder to stay focused. There were a lot of spectators on the sides, the cyclists were more nervous... But in the end, it was really physical fatigue that won out!
Precisely, at the end, describe your feeling as you entered the Champs-Élysées.
Listen, just realizing that I was completing the Tour de France, it's a very special feeling of satisfaction. I thought about the 10 years of training it took me to get there... I really took the time to appreciate the moment, to memorize it for the future!
Did you hear the crowd cheering?
Yes, I heard them. They were very present throughout the Tour, by the way, which was something that pleasantly surprised me. You really have to do the Tour to realize how intense, passionate and fervent the crowd of supporters there is!
Now that you've retired from competition, do you still ride?
Of course! I continue to ride for pleasure, but also for charity rides, such as the Cyclo-Défi de Québec or the Challenge cycliste des Bleuets in August. I will also be a "super coach" at the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, where I will be in charge of managing the pelotons. I'm always riding!