November 15, 2007 (Montreal, QC) – David Veilleux, who recently signed with Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast (KBSM) for 2008, is an up-and-coming rider from Quebec City. In 2006 Veilleux won the Canadian U23 Championships for both the ITT and the road race, in his first year as an espoir. Veilleux hung on to the U23 Canadian ITT title in 2007, but lost the U23 road champ title to Christian Meier (Symmetrics). KBSM is a Minneapolis-based team with many Canucks on its roster, including Martin Gilbert, Keven Lacombe, Dominque Perras, Ryan Roth and Mark Hinnen. Despite being in its first year, KBSM has racked up some impressive wins under the guidance of team director Jonas Carney. We caught up with Veilleux, who turns 20 this November 26, to find out more about his plans for 2008 and beyond.

We hear you’ve changed teams for 2008.
David Veilleux: Yes, I recently signed with Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling Team after riding for Jittery Joe’s Cycling Team in 2007 and before that with Garneau Crocs. Jittery Joe’s is sponsored by Garneau as well so 2008 will be the first year that I will not be riding for a Garneau-sponsored team.

Louis Garneau has played an important role in your career, was this a difficult decision?
DV: Louis Garneau helped me a lot, but this is business and I knew that someday this would happen. Despite riding for a team that is not associated with Garneau, I continue to maintain my friendship with him.

Why the switch to KBSM?
DV: I signed with KBSM because their program best suits where I want to go and they’ll be at more international races, including Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Australia and Ireland.

What are your plans for 2008 and beyond?
DV: My plans for 2008 include defending my U23 Canadian ITT title and to recapture the U23 Canadian road champ title. I am also very keen to race the Nations Cup in Saguenay, Que. My long-term plans include continuing to race in the USA and improve so I can compete at the 2012 Olympics.

Do you come from a family of sports enthusiasts?
DV: Not at all (chuckling). My parents have fully supported my cycling career, but they are not sports enthusiasts. I have one brother and one sister, but neither is into sports.

Have you tried any other sports?
DV: Yes, besides cycling I have competed in hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, judo, and downhill skiing.

Tell us about your current studies and academic goals.
DV: I am presently studying in Montreal at the Andre Laurendeau College in a sports-study program, which really means that my teachers make it easier for me to ride my bike. Eventually I want to go to university to study mechanical engineering. I expect that I’ll ride a bike professionally until my early 30s or something, but there is a life after that.

Do you have any comments about the recent doping scandals in cycling?
DV: Cycling is going through a tough time, especially in Europe. But it’s not the same in the USA, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m riding there. I want to stay clean and train clean.

Good luck this season with your new team.
DV: Thanks

Check out Veilleux’s website (in French) at www.davidveilleux.com . The site reveals that Veilleux was initially much more interested in mountain biking than road cycling and that two of his favourite motivational slogans are: “Nothing is impossible,” and, “No pain, no gain”.