March 3, 2005 – Former National Road Champion Dominique Perras is well on his way to starting his season, currently at a team training camp in Napa Valley. Pedal Magazine caught up with the Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada rider.

Your team has changed this year. Tell us about the merger and what that means to the team, and to you.

DP: Well the merger from the two teams, Ofoto (now called Kodak Gallery) and Sierra Nevada has increased the budget significantly, and pretty much brought the best out of the two teams. Kurt Stockton is a really well organized manager, and so far our team as run very professionally. We also have a very complete team with guys ready to excel on different terrain, so that should be good. It is always easier to get good results when you are surrounded by good riders.

What’s the schedule like? Same as last year? Any changes.

DP: Yes, it will be pretty similar, although I will probably do a few more of the NRC races. The big team goals for the early season will be Sea Otter and Georgia, with Redlands along the way. However, I’ll do less international travel than year (mostly to chase points for Olympics),something that in a way will be good; crossing all those time zones takes a lot out of you.

Who do you think could prove to be strong on your team this year? Anyone impressed you at camp?

DP: I think we have a well balanced team, with guys like Hayden Godfrey or Jackson Stewart as sprinters, and Glen Mitchell, Tim Larkin and myself for the harder races and stage races. Glen Mitchell and Tim Larkin are going really well at the moment and will be our guys for the early season races. I am a bit behind as I spend part of the winter in snowy Canada, but I should be on par by the end of march.

What bikes will you be riding? How are they?

DP: We’re racing Serotta bikes, that are hand-made in Saratoga Springs, NY. We all got a custom fit, so they are measured perfectly. They are using a combination of carbon and titanium, and the stiffness and responsiveness is impressive.

What are your big goals for the year?

DP: For the first part, my team is expecting me to be at my best for Tour of Georgia, and I would very much like to improve significantly on my 17th place overall of last year. After that, well there are two races that are always high on the list for me: GP de Beauce and the Tim Hortons Nationals. I’d really like to wear the Maple Leaf another year. Finally, I want to make the Canadian team for the world’s in Madrid. I had the chance to ride pro world’s in 2000 and 2003, and giving it all, against the best in world and in the most important one-day race in the world, is really a special feeling.

However, form is sometimes hard to predict, at times you reach form at different period than expected. As well, the team interests always go first over my own goals and I think it is important to respect that, so we’ll see. But I’m confident I can have a few good days during the year. No matter what, I will race hard in pretty much every event I will enter.

Will we ever see you racing in Europe again?

DP: We’ll see. At the moment I will focus more on the US scene. There are plenty of challenges out here for me. I am also quite happy to spend more time at home. I would still like to race in Europe at some point, It could depend on which doors open to me later on. East or west of the Atlantic, my passion for the sport is just the same as when I was 15 years old so I am ready to keep going for a little while at least.

Thanks Dom, and good luck.

DP: Cheers Matt!

June 17, 2004 – National champion Dom Perras is riding with the Canadian
National Team at the G.P. de Beauce. After each stage, will be asking him a few questions.

Pedal: Dom, you were ninth today — how did you feel?

Perras: I felt really good actually. As I thought last night, the race
started from the blocks and I covered most moves. Then on the first hard
hill the Polish teams went really hard, and I followed. Our group of 17 had
most of the favourites and we gained a lot of time. With 40k to go, three
guys attacked (Romanik, Brozyna and O’Neil). Twoof Rapinski’s teammates
chased, as well as one of Moninger’s . But as we weren’t really making up
ground, and even if I were alone, I decided to help the chase. Perhaps it
was a mistake. In the second last climb with 8K to go, I got clear with
Moninger, Rapinski and two Poles, but this one wouldn’t work.
Evenutually Rapinski jumped on the last hill, and he and Moninger made it
across the three in front. Then I was left for the last kilometre with
three Poles
sitting on, who all jumped me later! I lost a few seconds. The next
true test will be Megantic, where I hope to climb up at least a few spots
overall.

Pedal: Were any teams especially strong then?

Perras: The two Polish teams, CCC Polsat and ATI, had three each in the
moves, so they are looking really good.

Pedal: How was the National Team today?

Perras: It’s too bad we didn’t have at least one more guy in the break. Eric
would have been a good guy to have with me. Then I guess they just followed
the chasers.

Pedal: What do you think of tomorrow’s stage?

Perras: Tomorrow should be a chance for a breakaway by guys far on G.C. I
will
have to stay in front and watch, but I expect the next battle for G.C. to be
up Megantic. I think Eric will get in an early break.