November 2, 2007 — We caught up with newly crowned 2007 UCI World Masters Track Champion Stephane Le Beau who won the Points Race in the men’s 45-49 year old age category at the track championships that took place October 16-21 in Sydney, Australia, to find out more about his win. Le Beau had to contend with a fierce showing from the local Australians, who filled four of the next five spots and included Hilton McMurdo, who had earlier set the fastest 3km pursuit time of anyone of any age at the event.

Congratulations on your World title — how long have you been racing track?
Stephane Le Beau: Thanks, I used to race a lot of track, but last year was the first time in 23 years that I had touched a track bike (LeBeau used to race at the Montreal velodrome). It still went ok though and I won the pursuit at the Canadian Championships. This year the track Nationals also went well and I won the pursuit, the kilo and the points race in which I worked with a team mate. I don’t necessarily have the physique for the sprint events but I’m good at the points races.

What made you decide to go to Sydney for the Masters Worlds?
SL: Gerard Louis Robert, who won the overall in his category a few years ago said that I would to well in the pursuit with my times. I said I would consider it based on my national times, and we figured I could go 3-5 or even as much as 10 seconds faster on and indoor track than the one in Bromont.

So the Pursuit had been your goal, not the Points Race?
SL: I thought I maybe could get in there for a medal, so that’s what I prepared myself for. I had an injury going in, tendonitis in the left side of my right leg, but I didn’t feel it too much in Sydney. When you get to an event like that you just ride in the moment.

The pursuit went pretty bad, I took the first kilo way to fast, I rode a personal best but my last kilo was pathetic, I rode a 3:41 when my schedule was for a 3:32, but I exploded. C’est la vie. I had caught my opponent pretty quick and he actually re-passed me in the last kilometre. As an older rider with experience, but I guess I can still be nervous.

Tell us about the Points race. It doesn’t get much closer than that (Le Beau won by a single point).
SL: The points race was a good race. The Aussie guys were giving lead-outs for McMurdo and he was taking almost all the sprints. I tried to get away with a rider from Denmark and we hammered like crazy, but I realized to get away I would need an Australian.

One attacked right when we got cause and I knew I had to go. I bridged across and could look back and see the Aussie’s neutralizing the chase. I got onto the back of him (Craig Taylor) and he gave me a two-lap tow because I don’t think he knew I was on. I yelled up and worked with him, taking the next sprint and gapping him. We both took the lap and McMurdo won the next sprint. This meant that I now had to watch both the Aussies.

Coming into the second last sprint I knew I needed some of those points and dug deep to grab some small points, my “golden point.”

McMurdo was now only two points back but I hoped he was tired since he’d been going for all the points. The Aussie lead-out got swamped in the final sprint and I was scared I would lose McMurdo’s wheel and the race with it. I gave everything to finish right behind him and we came across the line 3rd and 4th. In the end it was my single “golden point” that secured the win. It was nice that we could see the scoreboard while we were racing and know where we were.

You seem like a savvy and astute points rider!
SL: It’s a question of calculating and taking the opportunities you get. I’ve always been pretty good at keeping track of the points score. It was a fast race; we double-lapped a couple of guys that got pulled. McMurdo is an incredible rider – he went 3:27 in the pursuit, the fastest time of any age.

I was amazed how many other Canadians were at the event, I could hear the Laliberte’s cheering for me during my ride.

What was the best part about your win?
SL: The best feeling was that the Aussies were controlling the race so well, and that I was able to sneak by them. It felt good to hear the Canadian anthem on the podium.

You won on an Opus, everyone at the office must have been pretty pleased (Le Beau works for Outdoor Gear Canada who distribute Opus in Canada).
SL: The guys at work were very happy and they made me a big banner that all my co-workers signed. Nothing changes though; you’re still the same guy. I like bikes and I have fun racing them and that’s the important thing. Life stays the same around you.

What’s up next for you?
SL: I might come out to BC for the January races (the Burnaby 6 Day). The Madison is my race, I used to race it at the old track in Montreal. It’s an event that you really have to know how to read a race for. I’ll keep training until then and maybe ride in London at the Forest City Velodrome a bit.

Good luck and we hope to see you in BC in January!
SL: Thanks