By Leah Larocque
Call it the Clara Hughes model. Similar to the Canadian summer and winter Olympic legend, competitive speed skater Vincent De Haitre of Cumberland has shifted gears to focus on track cycling in order to prepare for the world junior championships, starting Aug. 27 in New Zealand.
A former Ontario Cup speed skating circuit champion with the Gloucester Concordes, De Haitre is somewhat of a rookie when it comes to track cycling.
“I was looking to build my endurance, in order to be able to finish skating races stronger,” explains the 17-year-old.
The Ottawa Bicycle Club athlete’s success evolved, bringing him most recently to the Pan American junior championships where he placed fourth in both the sprint and the kilo race in personal best times of 10:74 and 1:04:8 respectively. Going to the junior worlds is a highlight in his career.
“I am quite a bit excited to go,” De Haitre says. “It would be an honour to represent.”
Presently, De Haitre’s dream of competing is in question after a cycling accident that broke his collarbone.
“My spot on the national team is a guarantee but whether I go or not is more about how I feel going in,” he highlights. “If I can hold my handle bars and hold my bike, I will go.”
De Haitre has qualified to compete in the keirin, match sprint, and kilo events. The Béatrice-Desloges high school student gives credit to his background in speed skating for the success he’s found in track cycling.
“I prefer the events that have more of a punch to them,” notes De Haitre, who has no plans to drop either of his sports for at least another year. “The match sprint and kilo are some of my favourite because of the standing start. I am better at the acceleration, and that definitely comes from skating. Starts in skating translate well to a good start in cycling.”
Ariane Bonhomme, also of the Ottawa Bicycle Club, has her sights set on a junior world championships team as well. She was recently named to Canada’s six-athlete women’s selection pool for road cycling worlds Sept. 15-23 in the Netherlands.
Participation in the junior worlds is 100% athlete-funded. Visit vincentdehaitre.com for more information.