Antoine Duchesne at the Vélo Cartel
After a remarkable 2016, crowned with a prestigious Jersey at Paris-Nice, Antoine Duchesne had a difficult final season, marred by a serious crash at Paris-Roubaix and bouts of illness. The last few months have been eventful, with the end of his contract at Direct Énergie and his arrival at FDJ, where he is expected to play the role of strongman in the classics, supporting Arnaud Démare.
But for now, as he resumes training, Antoine displays an Olympian calm.
While waiting to leave for preseason training camp in Spain, he's spinning his legs at Vélo Cartel. We caught up with him between two sessions on the rollers to ask him a few questions. About his career. But above all, about cycling as a way of life.
Antoine, you drive a lot—it's your job. But we can imagine that, over time, it can become tiresome to have to do so. Do you enjoy it as much as you used to?
I still really love it. I love my life. Sure, it's not pleasant when it's very cold or raining. But I love setting off for six hours, alone, in the mountains, finding myself in my head, thinking about my life. I need that solitude, it does me good, I find it therapeutic.
On the other hand, the coming months, getting back into shape... Let's just say that coming back from a break is difficult. Last year, I was often in comeback mode. I was sick at Paris-Nice, I had a crash at Roubaix, and then I was sick again. Coming back from behind when you're not feeling well, when you're not feeling good, those are the hardest moments, you question yourself a lot. But I'm glad I had a year like that, because it takes you somewhere else. I never got discouraged, even though it was difficult. By going through these trials, you reach new milestones.
Has cycling taught you anything about yourself?
Above all, it taught me a way of life, it gave me a certain discipline. A way of being and thinking. Cycling taught me to be more positive, more optimistic. It gave me confidence. I stopped comparing myself to others. I accepted that I am who I am, and then looked at what I could do to become even better. To be the best I can be. And not to give up. I always want to go further, push my body and mind beyond my current limits, and try to understand how to get there.
You have the opportunity to drive in beautiful places, but when you return to Quebec, what are your favorite roads?
This year, I had the chance to discover the Chaudière-Appalaches region, which I knew little about. When I returned in July, I spent five daysSocks, riding five or six hours a day, and it really is a superb area for cycling. It's beautiful, peaceful, and challenging, with lots of climbs, all kinds of terrain, and gravel. I really enjoyed myself around Warwick and Disraeli.
In closing, the holiday season is approaching, people don't know which wines to buy, and wine is one of your passions, especially since you've worked in vineyards in France. What would you recommend they buy?
I don't know. I don't know that much about it. And actually, what interests me about wine is the work involved. I find that there are a lot of similarities between what a winemaker does and my cycling practice.
The winemaker depends on no one; he owes his success to his work and his discipline. No one tells him what to do; he has to trust his instincts and constantly question himself. Should I prune like this? Should I harvest now? He works tirelessly. And when he opens the bottle, he gets the result he deserves. No one tells me to go work six hours in the rain; I'm all alone at home. But if I don't do the right things, I'll fall behind and I won't be any good. Wine is the same. It's your fault if your wine tastes like crap or if it's a masterpiece.
Yes, but like riding a bike, there's an element of luck involved...
That's for sure. The comparison continues there too. You can't control whether a disease attacks half your vines, or whether hail strikes and destroys everything. Nor can you control falls, or being hit by a car while training. Wine is hard work, often solitary, especially among the winemakers I know. I connect with that world. Both professions require the same character traits. That's probably why I'm so interested in it.
