Alison Jackson made historical past in 2023 as the primary Canadian, male or feminine, to win a Monument, her declare on the fabled cobblestone trophy at Paris-Roubaix final April defining her season and her profession. In just some days she will probably be again at work constructing towards a defence of the ‘Queen of the Cobbles’ title, racing on the new Problem Mallorca for ladies.
The Canadian champion joined EF Training-Cannondale for a restart this spring, the Continental programme grabbing her skills when the WorldTour-level EF Training-TIBCO-SVB workforce folded on the finish of final 12 months. Regardless of a studying curve with a brand new workforce in her ninth season as a professional bicycle owner and massive races on the horizon resulting in the Paris Olympic Video games, Jackson makes use of phrases “enjoyable” and “completely happy” loads to explain critical work.
“I like that the workforce permits me to be who I’m and have a cheerful coronary heart. A cheerful coronary heart goes to make a cheerful life,” Jackson instructed Cyclingnews from Spain simply earlier than the beginning of 2024 racing.
“I felt that this workforce has been such an ideal match for me. I feel it is as a result of they actually love personalities. It comes from EF, what they do with their firm and storytelling. All of the companions with us, too, love storytelling – Rapha, Wahoo, MucOff. To do issues differently and nonetheless be critical about your sport and get nice outcomes, I like that.”
Jackson’s story which will probably be retold for a very long time occurred final April. She went from breakaway rider to dash winner at Paris-Roubaix Femmes and danced her method into the hearts of many with social media celebration movies.
“For me, it was going to have numerous that means to win a Monument and in addition to jot down my identify within the historical past e-book as the primary Canadian, male or feminine, to have gained any of the Monuments,” Jackson admitted. “It’s important to imagine you possibly can win, with a view to even assume that it might be attainable. Biking is enjoyable. Racing is enjoyable. However successful is a particular kind of enjoyable.”
Following a coaching camp in Mallorca this month, Jackson and a contingency of EF Training-Cannondale riders will start their UCI racing season at Problem Mallorca Femenina, a three-day collection of street races. The primary race is the Felanitx-Colonia de Sant Jordi Trophy.
“I will get to leap in a few them, the Problem Mallorca. And that is form of proper in the midst of our workforce camp. I like that we’re doing that, bringing studying abilities collectively, whether or not we are able to truly put them in a motorbike race or come again after and be taught from it and take it into the subsequent massive races. For me, it will likely be the UAE Tour, which I have not performed earlier than. Add some wind in there, and that is going to make for a enjoyable bike race. Then from there, we get a few good pre-spring Basic begins, after which it’s going to be Opening Weekend.”
Like final 12 months, she’ll use a full schedule of 11 one-day races throughout eight weeks to construct towards the Vuelta España Femenina, which is a multi-day goal for Jackson “to get stage racing again in my legs”. She has not competed within the Spanish race in two years. However for now, the one-day Classics have been in focus.
“There are somewhat bit of various challenges, however [Brugge-] De Panne is kind of a bit like Paris-Roubaix. Clearly, it is a flat race, and it will be a choose group. If it is windy, it could be higher for me to make that a part of the problem. I actually would like to win that,” Jackson mentioned.
“It has a little bit of all the pieces. It may well have the wind, it has the Kemmelberg [half a kilometre averaging 9.2%] and people climbs round there are laborious sufficient, after which that lengthy run-in to the dash end. However we have seen that it has been gained in several methods.
“In fact, Flanders, that is one other one that may make your profession. I might love so as to add that to my palmares.”
Final 12 months Jackson scored essentially the most UCI factors of any rider on her EF Training-TIBCO-SVB squad, bolstered by the Paris-Roubaix victory. She additionally gained her second Canadian nationwide title within the street race and took two medals within the Pan-American Championships, silver within the street race and bronze within the time trial.
There are two younger Canadians along with her on the EF Training-Cannondale roster – Clara Emond, who moved from Arkea Professional Biking, and 22-year-old Magdeleine Vallieres, who raced with Jackson on the TIBCO workforce. She’ll rely on them in June on the Canadian Street Championships in St-Georges.
“There’s numerous nice feminine cyclists in Canada now. Yeah, I am wanting ahead to doing extra races with that workforce and popping out with a very massive workforce outcome. It is nice to see extra Canadians coming over to Europe and beginning to take a stab at WorldTour racing. At all times, Canadians are simply so pretty,” mentioned Jackson, Over her profession has gained 4 nationwide street titles – the 2015 Criterium championship, 2021 time trial and street titles and one other street championship in 2023.
“If I get to have two teammates there at Nationals in order that we get to maintain the jersey, whether or not it is on my shoulders or within the household, goes to take numerous stress off. I’m at all times actually proud after I get to put on that maple leaf.”
Whether or not it’s representing Canada or representing EF Training-Cannondale, Jackson has discovered to maintain work enjoyable and easy.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve additionally discovered to choose fewer essential objectives. I feel earlier than after I first began, I simply needed to win all the pieces and all the pieces was painful,” Jackson mirrored. “To win anyone race could be completely particular. To win the Olympic gold medal would imply a lot to me and to my household, to my nation. To win Paris-Roubaix once more, to actually declare the title as Queen of the Cobbles, could be completely unreal and such a delight. To win a stage on the Tour would additionally imply loads, like that may be enjoyable.
“After which at all times, to be nationwide champion. So these are the large objectives now.”
