1. Hi Genevieve, you are quite a petite athlete, how do you train hard enough to be as competitive as you are, yet not be injured all the time? Do you ride with some aches or pains most of the season? Also, how do you achieve that explosive power that allows you to break away from your competitors? (Reggie Dunbar, Calgary, AB)

GJ: I have a reputation for training harder than everybody else, but I don't believe it's true. Actually my coach Andre Aubut is very careful to prevent me from overtraining. We focus not so much on the volume of work, but more on the quality of the program. In other words, I don't think I train more than everybody else, but I do think, that, thanks to Andre, I train better than most. I think that the trick is to be very systematic, to do a lot of very specific training, on and off the bike. It requires careful planning, disciplined execution, yet flexibility (because I try and listen to my aches and pains, when I have some). As for the power, well, that's one of the specifics that Andre and I have worked on for several years. A mixture of power rides on the bike, and weight training in the gym. It pays off after a while...


2. What tactic will you be using during the road race? Try to attack early in the race, wait for a big mass sprint or just try to stay in the big bunch? Good luck! (Axel Nordell, Halmstad, Sweden)

GJ: Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you, hee, hee. Seriously, it will depend on so many factors - like the weather, how my legs will feel, my sense of how others feel in the peloton, how the race unfolds... What I like to have in a race is flexibility, i.e. to have more than one option. If my legs are good and I see an opportunity, I could attack in one of the climbs, but otherwise I can wait for the sprint. This year a lot of my training was focused on improving my sprints, so I can have more tactical options in a race. At the Canadian Nationals I didn't feel so good, so I decided to share the breakaway with Lyne Bessette, and wait for the final sprint. And that's how I won!


3. Who are your cycling heroes that you look up to for motivation and inspiration? (George Kokonas, Regina, SK)

GJ: I really liked Tony Rominger. I always thought he had an attitude, in a good way! He was small and powerful in the time trials and hills (the two things I hated most when I was 12-13 years old).

I also like Johan Museeuw because he has an incredible passion for cycling, trains harder every year and believes in himself so much than even if he's not the strongest on a given day, he knows he can win.


4. Team chemistry will play an important part in the success or failure of the Canadian effort at the world championship during the road race. Given that the team mates will be pulled together essential as a composite team for the road race, do you think the decision to not have the worlds team race together as a team this year will effect the ability of the Canadian team to get good results?:::Can the team mates put aside their personal ambitions given that they:::have not worked together all season and:::learned to have confidence in the team leaders and sacrifice acordingly for them? (Harry Lew, Vancouver, BC)

GJ: From that point of view, we'll be on par with most other national teams present. Most riders (men and women) spend the season riding for their trade teams and do not get to actually race for their national team before the Worlds. At this time I don't know for sure who will be selected on the Canadian Women's team, but yes, I think that the girls can work together in a race.


5. What is the most difficult part of competing for a country that values hockey above all else? I read that the support at the Nationals was great, how did this affect your race? (Franco, Italy)

GJ: I suppose I should say that finding sponsorship is a major problem in a country where cycling is not as important as in your country. But I can't complain personally, I have great sponsors, like RONA and Esker and Colnago and others. They support me and the whole RONA-Esker team. Canadians, especially French Canadians, are starting to appreciate the sport. I believe that more than 30,000 people attended the Montreal World Cup race this year, that's a lot of people. I love it when a lot of fans cheer their favorite riders on the road. It gives all of us a boost.


6. Hi,:::I am a big fan of yours and know that you will do well in October (heck why not win the whole thing). My question is when and where on the route do you plan to attack your main rivals?:::Remember to "Hammer Like Hell"! (MANUEL FERREIRA, Mt. Forest, ON)

GJ: Thanks for the encouragement! There are several places where the girls (or the men for that matter) will be able to attack. You have two tough climbs on the course and either one is good for an attack. But you have two exciting descents as well, and I can see some opportunity for action there too! So I can't tell you right now where I would attack (or even if I will -- remember the Nationals, Lyne Bessette and I settled the question in a sprint.) Strategy and tactics will have to do with how good I feel, how strong the others are on that day, and with Team Canada strategy. One thing is sure, though. You can expect very exciting races in Hamilton!


7. Is the parcours in Hamilton selective (difficult) enough to avoid a bunch sprint? (Luc Schegers, Belgium)

GJ: I do think that the parcours is selective. But it's not a mountaintop finish, so I believe that it will be a small sprint involving a 2-to-6 rider breakaway. To attack and finish alone will be hard.


8. Hi Genevieve!::::::If you were not riding a bicycle for a living, what would be your next favorite job to have? (Paulo Correria, Winthrop, Massachussets)

GJ: My favourite job would be to own a little pub-restaurant. That is what I am planning to do after my cycling career.


9. Hey Genevieve, I was wondering if you could share what your typical week would be like during the cycling season...Good Luck!!!! (Peter, Vermont)

GJ: Thanks! Hmmm... A typical non racing week would look like this:

Monday is an easy ride of about 2 hours in the morning with a weight training session for the upper body in the afternoon.
Tuesday is a 4-hour ride with some specific efforts
Wednesday is intervals day: some TT bike and some hill repeats
Thursday is super easy riding
Friday is OFF (good time to chat on the web... )
Saturday is intervals day
Sunday is a looonnnggg hard ride, usually in Vermont!


10. How long have you been cycling for and what prompted you to start cycling? (Isabella, New Hampshire)

GJ: I started cycling at 11. I wanted to be active and do something to be in shape, to have strength and muscles ! I did not want to be like my girlfriends: going to the mall all summer long and eat at McDonald's...


11. What would is your greatest accomplishment in cycling? (Jacoby, Liverpool)

GJ: Well... I think my World Cup victories and my World Championships victories are on the same level.


12. What do you typically eat before/during and after a race? (Do you drink the energy drinks like Powerade or Gatorade?) (Eva Summerfield, Moncton NB)

GJ: On the morning of a race, I have a good breakfast (2 cereal bowls, 2 toasts with jam) and 2 hours before, I will have a Cliff bar with a banana and some dried fruits (Mejdol dates are my favourites). I use Powerade in my race bottles.


13. Are you a weightlifter or do you focus mainly on cardio? (Jerry Bavre, Canmore, AB

GJ: Definitely a weight lifter. At just over 110 pounds, I need to be strong all around. I do a lot for the upper body too.