May 3, 2008 (Geraardsbergen, Belgium) — We received the following report from Simon Lambert Lemay (Hot Tubes) who is in Europe having excellent results winning two junior races in Belgium recently and taking the silver in a third race. Lemay finished eighth on Friday at the junior Tour of Flanders and the 17-year-old from Longueuil (just south of Montreal) had this to say:

“Today (Friday) was the junior Tour of Flanders and like yesterday, and the day before, it was raining. My preparation, however, was right on with good results the previous weekend (winning gold and silver) and a good week of training. My team, Hot Tubes, arrived last Tuesday and it was good to be able to ride with them again.

“My bib number was 169 and there were 180 riders on the start line. The pack was very nervous at the beginning of the race. There was a big crash and about 40 riders went down; everybody wanted to be near the front so riders were whipping around cars and pedestrians on the sidewalk to be in front. It’s crazy like that in Belgium!

“I made a break with a French cyclist and found myself in the lead group with a dozen other riders before a downhill – among them my team mate Gavin Manion. It was a very long day for the two of us because the break did not work well together, and we tried to maintain a 1:30 gap in front of the pack.

“What a sensation to ride up the Muur de Gramont and the Bosberg while beer-drinking Belgian spectators encouraged us! Once we got to the final lap, we were 40 seconds ahead. Among those who had caught up with the break were the Belgian TT champ and a cyclocross world champ. These two guys ended up taking gold and silver after dropping us. On the last lap, it was attack after attack before everyone arrived at the bottom of the last hill together. I have never had to dig so deep in my reserves as I did in the last 300 metres. I finally crossed the finish line in eighth with Gavin just behind me. I was exhausted but happy with my race – a 100km break in rainy and windy conditions. The next Hot Tubes race is Sunday in Liege on a hilly 120km course. I can’t wait!

Results (brief)

1. Sean De Bie (Bel) Koninlijke Balen B.C.
2. Guillaume Vankeirsbulck (Bel) Avia Cycling Team
3. Roy Jans (Bel) Ct Crabbe Performance
4. Niels Van Dijck (Bel) Thompsons Cycling Team
5. Nicolas Vereecken (Bel) Koninlijke Balen B.C.
6. Joaquim Durant (Bel) Jonge Rakkers Vollezele
7. Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Ct Crabbe Performance
8. Simon Lambert-Lemay (Can) Hot Tubes Development
9. Gavin Mannion (USA) Hot Tubes Development
10. Andris Smirnovs (Lat) Latvian Cycling Federation