Aylmer rider hopes to win hometown race

Jean-Sébastien Perron, a local road-racing cyclist, will be part of the big race, June 29, in Old Aylmer.

“The organizer (John Large) told me that I have to win this race since it is being held in my hometown,” said Perron. “I’m not in the same shape as I was when I raced as a pro,” chuckled the 30-year-old racer.

A pro rider for years, Perron has raced at the national level. “I won several races up until my mid-twenties when I started working full-time,” said Perron, who still competes today and is a member of the Lowest Rates Elites Cycling Team.

“Yes, Aylmer, with all its bike paths, is certainly a cycling town. There have been few races held in Aylmer, but I think with the development and rue Principale’s boom, this race will generate excitement,” added Perron.

As for the Criterium race, Perron expects strong competition, a technical course, and plenty of turns. “The big professional teams will try to dominate the race, such as Silber Pro Cycling and Louis Garneau.”

A Criterium is a multi-lap race on a short closed circuit with hundreds of racers that will usually last between one and two hours. “Spectators will see the racers roughly every two minutes,” explained Perron.

For spectators, it’s important to recognize when a rider tries to break free from the bunch or when a team of cyclists congregates to make an attack.

Such a race will feature long straight lines of racers as opposed to large bunches. “There’s an elastic in the peloton and half-way through the race the peloton will be halved.” In other words, only the fittest survive!