July 28, 2007 – Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast is a new US-based America Tour UCI Continental Team with the most Canucks on its squad. This first-year team has two Quebecers, track rider and sprinter Martin Gilbert, former National road champion Dominique Perras, along with two up-and-coming Ontario natives, Ryan Roth and Mark Hinnen, racing on their ten-man roster.

Last month three of those four – Gilbert, Roth and Hinnen – were competing at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a six-stage NRC (National Racing Calendar) race in Minnesota. No conventional hotel for them – soigneur Larry Foss lives in a loft above “One on One Studio,” a very cool combination coffee shop and bike shop in downtown Minneapolis, so the KBS team bunked with Foss.

Since cycling and caffeine go together like Colnago and Campagnolo, it was a perfect setup, as they could grab a pre-race coffee each morning before hitting the road. Team Director Jonas Carney arranged for me to meet with the three riders in One on One Studio on day three of the race, during a break between the morning time trial and the evening criterium.

Imagine the dueling noises of the hissing and gurgling of milk steamers, the whirring of coffee beans being ground, espresso cups and latte glasses clinking… along with bike tools clanking. Now inhale deeply, imagining the aromatic combination of pungent coffee combined with citrus chain solvent and you’re in the proper mood – read on, as those were the pleasant background sounds and smells as we had our little chat:

Mark, most Pedal readers don’t know a whole lot about you since it’s your first year out of juniors. Tell people a bit about yourself – where you’re from, how you began riding and racing.
Mark Hinnen: I’m from Oakville, Ontario, which is just outside Toronto, and I’ve been riding six years, racing for five. I started riding after my Grade 7 teacher (at L.J. James Middle School,) Kim Davidge, who rode for Saturn, told us all about her racing career. So that summer I was a little bit more aware of cycling and I watched the Tour de France. From there I just went through the ranks like everybody, going through local races, then provincial, eventually working my way up to where I am now.

Who were some of the riders you looked up to and why?
MH: When I was young anybody that was winning I was like “Oh man, I really like them.” Obviously Lance Armstrong had a big impact on me and all the guys from Tyler Hamilton to Basso to Ullrich for a little bit. Actually I was looking up to Ryan (Roth) for a little bit too (laughs.)

How about you, Ryan, what’s your background since you’re in your first year out of Espoirs and readers may not know much about you?
Ryan Roth: I started mountain bike racing a little bit when I was 15 and then I started road racing. My first year as a junior I did like half mountain bike, half road racing and I really enjoyed the road racing a lot more so I dropped the mountain bike thing and did road full time from then on.

Was Steve Bauer one of the guys you admired and what was it like racing for his Team RACE last year?
RR: It wasn’t that long ago that I really understood just how good Steve was. He’s kind of underrated a little – you don’t hear a lot about him. He wasn’t racing when I started so I didn’t really hear much about him then. But yeah, if you think about what Steve has done compared to a lot of the guys it’s unbelievable just how good he was. When he says something you listen – he’s got the experience and stuff.

When you decided to go pro how did you end up choosing Kelly Benefit Strategies?
RR: Well, I was initially planning on racing for Team RACE again this year and then I got an email from Jonas (Carney, KBS Director) and it just seemed like Kelly was just a little bit ahead of where Team RACE was going to be this year in terms of the racing program and stuff like that. So I talked with the people involved with Team RACE and they were really supportive of me leaving and taking another step hopefully.

At the time did you know the team was going to be full of Canadians?
RR: At the time I did not know, no. I think I was maybe the first Canadian that was signed, then Martin, Dom came on right at the very end. It’s always good to have guys you know already.

Martin, how did you choose this team? Did you and Dominique come as a package deal?
Martin Gilbert: Yeah, for sure. Last year Dom helped me a lot to switch to a U.S. team and then after that at the end of last year we just spoke together and really wanted to race together again. So we spoke as a team to different teams. We really liked to follow Jonas for sure when he came here because we had a nice year with Kodak last year with him so we liked the way he was directing the team and everything. So we kind of spoke to different teams but we made the choice together to come with Kelly.

And is it nice to have a group of four Canadians on the team?
MG: Yeah, it’s pretty nice. It’s nice to see that cycling in Canada is getting better and better and a lot more teams and everything. It’s nice to race on a pro team in the U.S. with four Canadians on the team.

Martin, you’re pretty young but you’ve been around a while. Are you helping these guys out, showing them the ropes of pro racing a bit?
MG: I think they are pretty much at the same level as me but if I can help with something for sure I’ll do it. Mark is a little bit younger but I think he has a lot of experience too.

Mark, you’re only 19, are you able to lean on these guys and Dom also to ask questions?
MH: Yeah, when I’m around the guys on the team whether it be the Canadians or the Americans, they’ve been racing a long time and I can always count on them just to give me a little hand if I’m wondering about a certain tactic. With their experience they’re able to give me a lot of help.

What are the adjustments from Juniors to Pros, and racing with and against the best domestic riders?
MH: I don’t know that there were many adjustments, but you have to adjust your training. You just increase your training but I’m always gradually working through things so there’s not too much. The difference between the races is that there are always so many guys and they’re always really good. Last year I raced a lot in Europe and the quality of the junior fields there was better. It’s kinda just working your way up and it’s not the biggest leap but it’s definitely challenging. That’s why having experienced guys like Martin and Ryan and Dom is useful to me.

Ryan, talk about the jump from Espoirs to this level?
RR: I don’t think it’s so much of a difference from Espoir to Senior but it’s more from the team last year to this team. Also every weekend there’s an NRC race, or a UCI race, or another important race and there’s always a super-deep field. Last year you’d get one of those races maybe once a month, but now it’s every weekend. So just having to focus like that every weekend is a lot more difficult.

What are your strengths as a rider?
RR: Naturally I think time trialing is maybe the best thing that I do. If I’m going really well and I work hard at it I can do ok at sprinting and climbing, but I’d say time trialing is my best strength.

How big an accomplishment was it to finish on the podium of a stage at the FBD Insurance Rás in Ireland earlier this season?
RR: Being on the podium in the Rás was nice because it’s a UCI race and an international field so that’s good. And also being really consistent and steady throughout the whole race – it’s an eight-day race and I’d never really done that before. I always have a bad day or something so I was really pleased that I rode ride solid through the whole race.

How about you, Martin, you’ve been around a while. How important an accomplishment was your gold medal in the road race at the Pan Am Championships?
MG: Yeah, I think every year I’m able to do something that I’m really proud of, sometime on the track, sometime on the road. This year the beginning of the season was not that good, I had a little problem maybe with my training. I got in pretty good form for the Pan Ams so I was really happy to be Pan Am Champion. I think it’s something nice and it’s a pretty important race for Olympic qualification for the country and everything so yeah, I’m really proud of this race for sure.

Looking at the future are you focusing on the road or a track, especially as you look toward Beijing?
MG: I think it’s hard to figure out. For Beijing short-term I think I will look a little bit more for the track. I think the road race course in Beijing is not really good for me. It’s like uphill for 7km and a really hard course. I think I am still able to manage pretty well on both track and road. For sure Olympic-wise I will try to focus on the track and qualify the country and qualify myself for Beijing on the track and still go pretty hard on the road and try to do the Road World Championships, or something like that if the course is pretty good for me.

Mark, you are the only rider ever to win all three jerseys at the Tour de l’Abitibi. Did that made you feel that you were ready to make the jump to where you are now?
MH: It was a two-year thing to win the jerseys. The first year (2005) I won the Best Young Rider and last year was the GC and the Sprint Jersey. Being able to do that in a well-known race was good. It added a lot to my resume and also winning the National road championships twice was nice. I’d say over the last two years I’ve had my biggest accomplishments so far, but this year I really haven’t been able to go to my potential because I’ve been sick and injured. Last year had the most impact on me and for sure, my results over the last two years were what allowed me to get on a team like Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast.

You’ve raced at the Junior Worlds – what does it mean to represent Canada, to wear the Maple Leaf on your jersey?
MH: It’s a really good feeling. It’s hard to explain. It’s not something that a lot of people get to do so I’m grateful that these opportunities exist. It’s just a good feeling when you’re on the start line representing your country and you know there are so many guys striving for that spot and I’m proud of myself in the sense that I was able to train hard and make it to that level. On a personal level it’s nice to be able to know that I’m going somewhere and I’m making improvements in cycling. But it’s also neat to know that you’re representing your country.

Ryan, does representing your country give you a little extra pride?
RR: Yeah, I definitely am proud to be a Canadian, to be at the start line with the Canadian jersey…I always look forward to racing with the National Team no matter what race.

Martin, representing your country is one thing, being on the podium with the gold medal around your neck and hearing “O Canada” is another – what does that feel like?
MG: Yeah, it’s a pretty nice feeling for sure. When you’re at the start line whether at the Pan Am Championships or the World Championships, you’re with the best riders representing their country, so you know the race will be the best in the world and everyone really wants to win this race. So at Pan Ams when I was able to do well and hear the Nat Anthem there, it was a pretty nice feeling.

Are the Olympics the big goal for you?
MG: Yeah, I think what I’d like in cycling is to represent Canada at the World Championships or the Olympics, that’s my goal for sure. It’s nice to be able to live with cycling all the time – right now I’m still going to school at the same time. My goal is to try to reach the world class level on the track and compete at World Cups, and try to do it on the road as well. The best way to achieve this is to be professional for sure. That’s the only way to do it right because that way you can compete at all the big races and train for them, gain experience at those races, and reach a world class level.

Ryan, when you look ahead a few years, where do you want to be racing and what are your goals in cycling?
RR: I like racing in the States. I wouldn’t say I’ll never race in Europe but if I can make a decent living at racing my bike, then that’s fine with me. I’m not gonna say I want to win the Tour de France or anything like that, I mean as long as I can race my bike and make a living, that’s pretty good, I’ll be happy with that.

How about you, Mark, you’re still quite young. A few years down the line where do you want to be racing, in Europe, do you like it here, or do you have anything particular in mind?
MH: Just like Ryan I like it a lot in the States. I just want to go through the ranks and not try and be there before I’m ready. If I’m not ready I don’t what to be there and so right now I think it’s a good opportunity to race in the States, especially since the level here is getting so good and they’re adding a lot of quality races like Tour de Georgia and (the Tour of) California. Although our team’s not doing them and I’m not doing them, they’re drawing a lot more people to the States. So the depth in the fields here is good and there’s no reason to go to Europe right now. I mean maybe down the road if the opportunity presents itself it would be something I’d look into more, but for now I’m happy racing here and seeing what I can do with the NRC Series.

You’re not home a whole lot – what piece of home do you bring with you?
MH: I don’t usually leave home without my laptop or iPod. If I’m on the road a lot I can’t not have my laptop.

Nothing Canadian that you miss?
MH: The States is kind of like Canada, if it was Europe maybe it would be different and if was more long term. I’m not away that often and when I’m away it’s only a week or two here (in the States), then back home, and then back on the road again. The only things I really can’t live without are my laptop or iPod.

Martin, what do you miss about home?
MG: The same thing. This year I didn’t get home a lot, I think I had about fifteen days in four months – that’s a bit too much for me right now. I feel the same as Mark – a laptop is a cyclist’s best friend right now. You can have wireless almost everywhere in the world so you can communicate with almost no cost with your girlfriend, family, friends, everything, so I think it’s a big tool. I don’t know how racers managed ten years ago without laptops. For sure it’s something I can’t forget at home.

Miss any Quebec food?
MG: Aaah, yeah, I think for sure in the U.S. the food is a lot different than in Montreal or in Quebec. The quality is not that good in restaurants or things like that. When you are on the road for two weeks and you eat at Waffle House every morning for sure you miss your mother’s cooking or a nice grocery store with good quality food, but we have to do it… I try not to go too much to the Waffle House. (Amy’s Waffle House is a fast-food breakfast chain that seems to be in many start towns of American bike races, especially those in the South.)

Ryan, do you miss being able to watch hockey?
RR: A little bit. In Ireland I missed a good chunk of the playoffs so I was kinda bummed.

Who’s your team?
RR: I don’t really have a team, any Canadian team is good. I don’t really get into it, just the playoffs. But… there’s nothing really specific, it’s just being at home where it’s more relaxed, everything just falls into place. It’s easier because you know everything, there isn’t the constant “how do we get here?” or “where to we do this?” Almost everything you can get in Canada is available in the States – but some stuff here you can’t get in Canada.

What’s the most interesting or odd thing you can tell me about either of these guys?
RR: Mark and I are both into the Trailer Park Boys, that TV show. Yeah, Trailer Park Boys DVDs, that’s something we can bring with us that they don’t have in the States! And we can share that with the U.S. guys cause they really don’t get it here.

What can you tell me about these guys?
MH: As Ryan said he and I like The Trailer Park Boys. We always make jokes from the show and I think some of the guys look at us a bit weird because they don’t know the show. That’s our little piece of home I guess. It’s kinda stupid but it’s funny. As for Martin, I don’t know. He talks like super loud on his phone – and he’s always on his phone and on his computer. And he’s a Quebecer, that’s a little bit different (laughs).

Do you get a chance to get back at these Ontario boys?
MG: Yeah, I don’t really speak to them much because they always laugh about my English (laughs.) Yeah, I think it’s nice to be for sure with other Canadians, I think it’s different – Canada and the U.S., it’s not all the same mentality, philosophy of life and everything so it’s nice to be with a few guys from home. And it’s good for me, I get to practice my English too – it was a lot worse a couple weeks ago, even a couple months ago, but right they laugh at me all the time.
Mark Hinnen: It hurts his feelings I think. He cries sometimes.

You guys make Martin cry?
RR: I haven’t, no, no.

And with that, the interview ended, since we all had to get ready for that evening’s criterium!

Postscript: showing their true dedication toward being a home for Canadian cycling talent, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast just signed 22-year-old Keven Lacombe. The native of Amos, Quebec appears to be fully recovered from a broken femur suffered in 2006, which forced him to miss most of the season, and is debuting with the team at the Tour de Toona.