Triathlon Québec is proud to present its Athletes of the Month, two personalities who have distinguished themselves through their sporting achievements and their commitment to the triathlon community. For the month of April, we highlight a rookie and a veteran of Team Quebec, Mathis Beaulieu and Jérémy Briand. We spoke to them about their recent performances and upcoming goals. Discover Mathis and Jérémy’s interview here.

Triathlon Québec: In a few sentences, tell us quickly about your study profile, where you train, your club and coach and how long you’ve been practicing triathlon.

Mathis Beaulieu I’m studying history and geography at Cégep Garneau and I train with the Rouge et Or at Université Laval’s Peps. My coaches are Nicolas Proulx-Bégin and Pierre-Yves Gigou, and I’ve been doing triathlons for 6 years, since I was in Secondary 1.

TQ: You took part in your first Elite Continental Cup in Salinas, Ecuador, on April 24, finishing an excellent ^11th. Can you tell us a little about your experience and the highlights of your race?

MB : My experience in Ecuador, without a coach, was one of the most enriching in terms of autonomy. I learned a lot from my teammates. The race was very tough and showed me where I need to improve. The triathlon took place in two stages: first, a very bad start on the beach led to a poor swim, and I had to catch up on the bike, with my teammate Léo Roy, to get into the second pack. On the run, the first km was very hard on the legs, but I managed to catch up with the first pack, which was some forty seconds behind.

TQ: You just won a U.S. Junior National Series race in Richmond, Virginia by an impressive 50 seconds. What does this victory mean for you in your preparation?

MB: My win in Richmond gives me confidence for the next few races, as I managed to link up the three sports well with few mistakes.

TQ: What’s your next goal on the calendar and how are the next few weeks of training and school shaping up for you?

MB: My first objective is to catch up academically so that I can finish my semester and focus on my training. My second goal is to qualify for the World Championships in Montreal and the Canada Games, with a view to achieving a podium finish at these races.

TQ : Thanks or anything else you’d like to share?

MB: I’d like to thank my coaches and Triathlon Québec for supporting me in my training and development at international level.

Triathlon Quebec In a few sentences, tell us about your field of study or profession, where you train and how long have you been practicing triathlon?

Jérémy Briand I’m doing a master’s degree in exercise science at the Université de Montréal. My project involves modelling interval training, which would help us to better understand and improve the prescription of training sessions. I also work in parallel as a research assistant at the INS on various research projects using data modelling and artificial intelligence to support workout planning and injury prediction. I swim in Boucherville and also do my physical preparation at INS. I’ve been a serious triathlete since I was 17, so that’s about ten years now.

TQ:You took part in the Arena Games event in London organized by Superleague and World Triathlon, finishing an excellent ^8th. You’re now in Singapore in final preparation for the first Esport World Triathlon Championships. Can you tell us about your experience?

JB:When I saw the opportunity to do the Arena Games, I was immediately interested. I stay in Quebec in winter and ride Zwift. I liked the idea of being able to do races that counted towards the World Cup rankings, while using Zwift, a platform I know very well. It’s a unique experience, hard to compare with what you’re used to in triathlon. I think you have to look at it as a separate discipline, a bit like cyclocross and mountain biking versus road biking. After all, it’s an intense format, which requires you to dig deep into your reserves and be on the ball in terms of transition. These are all adjustments that will enable me to be at a better level for my next races.

TQ:We saw that you set the highest power per kilogram of the series with 6.2w/kg over five minutes in the first qualifying round. How does this format differ from more “traditional” races, and how do you approach them tactically?

JB: It’s really a discipline apart from the triathlon we’re used to. However, at the end of the day, it’s the athlete with the best physical skills who wins. and which best adapts to the prevailing race format. For London and Singapore, Super League took the decision to remove drafting on zwift. This changed the game a little, especially for those who have swimming as their main strength, but who are a little less strong on the bike. For my part, I focused on managing my effort on each stage. With two 12-minute stages, 6.2 w/kg was exactly the kind of effort I knew I could maintain over a twenty-minute effort. Then, in the final, the management was much tougher, with the accumulation of fatigue and the varied sequence of events. I did the best I could, but the strategic side was limited to trying to survive and make the most of my strengths.

TQ:You just clocked an excellent time of 14’17 over five kilometers in a road race last Sunday. Are you planning another road race in 2022?

JB:Yes, I did 14:15 in fact. It was a great road race, well organized with a high level of good runners. I certainly plan to do it again over the summer and in the autumn. I used to do a lot of this type of race in the past and I’m planning to incorporate more of them into my training.

TQ: What’s your next goal on the calendar and how are the next few weeks of training and school shaping up for you?

JB : After Singapore, I’ll be doing the Arzachena World Cup in Italy, followed by the WTCS in Leeds and Montreal. At school, the next few months will be devoted to writing my dissertation and initiating the steps towards a Doctorate.

TQ :Thanks or anything else you’d like to share?

JB: Thanks to Triathlon Québec for the support and recognition.

If you know an athlete who has made a name for himself or herself through performance, athletic achievement or community service, nominate them for the next Athletes of the Month. We’re looking to shine the spotlight on Quebec athletes of all kinds, insiders, pros and beginners alike! Share their name and a short description of their achievements at info@triathlonquebec.org