August 06, 2018 (Vallée Bras-du-Nord, QC) – I’m completely new to stage racing and the first thing I’ve learned is that I have a lot to learn. The good news is that there are several veteran racers here with plenty of friendly advice. The QSE is also a small enough group that even after only two days, it’s beginning to feel like a family. Of course there are a few rivalries on the go within the age categories and the overall leader, but even these appear to be tempered with fun.

Lucky me to be the only female in my age category as it means that coveted “Leader” plate will remain on my bike for the entire seven days. A gal could get used to being first, though I’d rather have some competition in my category (50-59 ladies where are you? Drop everything and register for next year.) Which brings me to lesson two: I am not nearly as fit as I’d like to think I am. Two words: hill repeats. Enough said.

Today’s stage gave me plenty of hill repeats to practice on. Unlike yesterday, where rocks. roots and more rocks were the name of the game, the Saint-Raymond sector of Vallée Bras du Nord offered up some incredible flow, both up and down. A few stretches rolled alongside the bean fields of local farms, but most was contained within some stunning pine forests that afforded open views of the trail ahead, and – more importantly today – a bit of respite from the sun and high humidity that had temperatures soaring to near 40C with the humidex.

It’s truly hard to choose a highlight of the day. Despite my increasingly evident lack of pre-race training, I found the climbs enjoyable, but of course it was the fast, bermy descents, punctuated with tabletops and small jumps that put the grin on my face.

Yet, there was one standout – a completely new trail, La Montée de Julien, that opened this very morning just for the QSE. At 4+km in length, it was part climb, part descent and a total rip the entire way, and not just because I was one of the first to ride it. True, it was mushy under the tires, as most new trails are, and that in itself was a lot of fun, but once it firms up and opens officially, it will be a stellar addition to the existing Saint-Raymond network.

Such new trails are part of the legacy left by QSE. A not-for-profit, the organization has designated a portion of its annual income generated through sponsorships and registration fees towards the creation of new trails in the Québec area.

Each year, the local networks can apply for one of five grants that are up for grabs. La Montée de Julien, along with a new bridge, will add to the experience for local and visiting riders at Saint-Raymond, making the region an even greater mecca than it already is.