1. Would training on the World's course in Hamilton provide you with an advantage over the riders who will only see the course in October? Do you plan to train on the Worlds road course between now and the Championships? (Reggie Dunbar, Calgary, AB)

DP: The main advantage is that I raced the Canadian championships on the course already, because hills are always different at race speed and after 180km. Riding it in training doesn't always give you the proper "feeling" of the course. For instance, when I rode it the day before nationals I thought the course was not THAT hard, but it got harder after each km in the race.

One important thing is that now I know the gears I will need for world's: to get into details, I will use 41X 53 in the front and 11-23 at the back. 41 chainring rather than 39 because the hills are not so steep and a 41 is a bit better to keep the chain straight and gives a bit more power. 11X23 because I expect that we might be on the big chainring on the top of the climbs in the last laps, perhaps on 53X21-19, so that way it is best to keep the chain straight.


2. How do you rate the Hamilton course in relation to your riding style? (Ron Huizinga, Vineland)

DP: It is undoubtedly one of the best courses because there are 2 hills, long enough where it is more aerobic capacities rather than anaerobic that are needed. As my primary strength is climbing, this course really suits me well.


3. How are the athletes training for the "worlds" knowing that there will be alot of hill climbing to do? What are they doing to prepare for this event? (Sandra Bassi, Mississauga, ON)

DP: Most riders will race a lot in September, either the Tour of Spain or one day races in Italy, in both cases there are a lot of hills in it. Otherwise riders will make sure that their training includes enough long rides to survive 6 and half hours of racing, but also short intervals training in hills to improve or maintain their capacity to ride at their threshold (aerobic limit) on 4-5 minutes climbs.


4. How many hours a week do you train? And how do you stay motivated? (Horacio Couto, Oakville, ON)

DP: I train around 20-25 hours a week, and race about 80 days a year. It is not easy to stay focus all year and thus we have to set precise objectives, and accept that we won't be at our best year round. I keep my motivation by thinking of those 2-3 big goals of the year, this year I had 2, Canadian and World's championships.


5. You seemed to peak for the Canadian National Championships at the perfect time. Do you think your training in Southern California this past winter was important to your success, and do you plan on returning to prepare for the world championships? (Jeff Robinson, Ventura, CA)

DP: Training in California over the winter is great, and I hope to go back next year, I always have a great time there. However I will have a bit of a busy race schedule prior to world's, most notably in Italy, and don't think I will be heading south before.


6. Hi,::::::I'm a bigger rider (6 feet, 3 inches and 200 lbs), and I've been racing for the first time this year. What training types would you recommend to get me as competitive as possible, as quickly as possible?::::::Thanks! (Shane, Rockville, MD)

DP: It is hard to propose a training schedule that easily, but in general a certain mix of short intense rides, one long ride a week and at least 2-3 days to recover as your body is not used to hard training or racing. I think interval training is a good way to get into shape, especially for the criterium. For instance, it can be 15 minutes of 30sec sprint/ 1 min rest, done twice in a 2hr training session. This is very good to increase your condition rapidly.


7. What do you feel is the best way to bring Canadian cycling the same exposure the sport enjoys abroad? (Kevin, Edmonton, AB)

DP: Let's hope that the World's in Hamilton will bring the media attention and enthusiasm needed to create a long lasting interest for the sport across Canada.


8. Hi Dominique!::::::I don't know how good you are at cycling, but I wonder what you think about your chances against the elite from europe?::::::Good luck! (Axel Nordell, Halmstad, Sweden)

DP: Hei Svenska, tusen takk aa skrive til meg! Although we are realistic of our chances to win, we are a few who are competing on the international scene, and I think it is very possible to see a Canadian or 2 in the top 30, if not top 20. Ha det bra!


9. Salut.............champion::::::Lorsque tu attaque une bonne montée, c'est quoi la technique? Est-ce que tu change de braquet dans le but de maintenir ta cadence, ou est-ce que tu pousse dans un premier temps ensuite tu te lève sur tes pédales. au bas de la montée est-ce que tu te positionne pour tirer sur ton guidon.::::::JE te remerci de prendre soin de répondre. (Pierre, Woodstock, ON)

DP : Je ne dirais pas qu'il y a UNE technique, mais en général il faut essayer d'être régulier et ne pas exploser, i.e. ne pas aller en surégime trop tôt dans une côte. Il est préférable d'essayer d'être assis le plus souvent possible, et se mettre en danseuse pour relancer la vitesse ou pour les derniers mètres de la côte. Il faut trouver la cadence idéale (bien sur plus faible que sur le plat) pour faire travailler également le coeur et les jambes, soit environ 70-80 rpm pour la pluspart des gens, mais pour cela il ne faut que s'entrainer et « trouver son rythme »

Enfin, il est généralement mieux de se positionner au haut du guidon (levier de frein ou centre du guidon) pour ouvrir la cage thoracique qui mieux respirer.


10. What type of training/diet is involved in increasing my ascent climbing power, and average speed of 30 km/h.::::::Thank You for your time. (Russel Hurst, Hamilton, ON)

DP: I am not a coach, but to my knowledge there is nothing better to improve climbing skills than doing...climbs. For instance, a training session with 6 X 4 minutes at your threshold (rhythm you can hold and have a constant speed and Heart rate) , 8minutes recovery in between the efforts. However, make sure to recover well too, the easy day are as important as the hard ones!


11. Bonjour Quelles sont les ambitions de l'Équipe Élite hommes durant ses championnats du monde? Quelles sont vos ambitions personnelles?::::::merci (Delpiano, Cavaillon, France)

DP : Il est un peu tôt pour parler des ambitions de l'équipe en général puisqu'elle n'est pas encore sélectionnée, mais je crois que nous aurons tous à coeur de nous montrer. Comme nous ne serons que 4 j'imagine que le jeu d'équipe sera limité, mais dans mon cas je crois que de viser une place dans les 20-30 premiers est tout à fait réaliste.


12. Dominique,::::::What part of the course did you find most challenging during the nationals? ::::::Good luck in October. (Bob Newton, Hamilton, ON)

DP: No doubt, it was the hill on Queen street, although we had a headwind on the long "highway" climb (can't remember the name) that made it long and hard.