Magdeleine Vallieres-Mills

Magdeleine was about eight-years-old when she learned to ride a bike without training wheels. That Christmas, she got a new bike and the following summer her dad took her on a nine-day, 1,000 kilometer bikepacking trip. She credits her dad – and that trip – with creating her passion for cycling that has guided her life ever since.

Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Magdeleine rode with her local club. She raced mountain bikes, cyclocross, and road bikes as a teenager. She also learned how to track stand and to this day cannot resist the urge to track stand when she waits at red lights. As much as she loved racing in Quebec, Magdeleine soon realized that if she wanted to continue to compete and grow as a rider, she needed to go to Europe. She earned a spot with the UCI’s World Cycling Center program where she spent two seasons soaking up every opportunity she encountered.

At just 22-years-old, Magdeleine has already raced big stage races like the Vuelta a España Femenina, the Giro d’Italia Women, and the Tour de France Femmes, and one-day races like Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold. She is still learning where her strengths lie but it’s clear that her enthusiasm for cycling will help her go far.

Fun Facts

What is your favorite climb? What makes it special?
My favorite climb is la Côte de Beauvoir. It is a small hill close to my home in Sherbrooke. It is one of the places I learned how to suffer and where I fell in love with the sport! I have done some of my first training sessions and races up it. It always brings good memories! It's a very punchy climb of around three minutes!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
I would really like to go to South Africa. I have heard so many good things. I heard it is super beautiful and I have really great friends from there.

Who is your favorite athlete in any sport? What do you admire about them?
I am always really inspired by my teammates.

What is your favorite pump-up song?
It depends on my mood and the race, but at the moment I have been listening to a lot of songs by Snoop Lion!

What is your favorite word in your native language? What does it mean? What do you like about it?
À bloc ! It means all-out, going hard, I'm dying, going fast. I use it a lot!

 

Date of birth: 10/08/2001
Hometown, Country: Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Languages: French and English (trying to learn Spanish 😉)
Nickname: Mags