Manon Jutras is a late bloomer in women's cycling, who just simply gets better with each passing season. Last year at age 35 she stunned the cycling world winning a stage at the prestigious Tour de l'Aude and finishing an impressive 13th overall. She overcame a broken collarbone suffered at the 2003 nationals to race at the world championships in Hamilton. This year she was second to Lyne Bessette in the women's road race at the Canadian championships.
Jutras competed in the triathlon for 10 years but was never able to crack the Canadian national team. Cycling was her best event, therefore in 2000 she decided to compete at the Canadian cycling championships. She finished 10th in the time trial and 13th in the road race and figured her cycling career was over.
But she was offered a spot on Team Rona and last year spent the season with the now-defunct Team Saturn. She's entered in the road race at the Olympics.
