Cyclists Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin will start their season in Marseille on Sunday with the belief that their team, Israel-Premier Tech (IPT), must perform better in 2024.

The win counter is down to zero, but the Israeli-Canadian team’s success will soon be here.

With invitations to the Tour de France, the Tour of Italy and the great spring classics such as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the relegation saga is no longer an issue. But the 29 drivers under contract know their mission: to win.

Hugo Houle obviously has nothing to complain about with a stage in the Tour de France in 2022, but the veteran, entering his 11th season at the highest level, is looking to make his mark at the front of the peloton.

opportunity to seize

“We always look forward to the premiere of the year. We managed to get selections for the important races and it’s up to us to perform. We have no room for error this year. We weren’t at the same level last year and we have to do better. Everyone is aware of this, ”started the 32-year-old athlete.

The core of the team hasn’t changed, notably with Michael Woods, Chris Froome, Daryl Impey, Simon Clarke, Jakob Fuglsang, Sep Vanmarcke and the addition of Dylan Teuns at the end of last season.

Canadian Derek Gee, time trial specialist and Tokyo Track Olympics, replaced James Piccoli, who will wear the China Glory jersey instead.

Seven riders from IPT have taken part in the Grand Prix La Marseillaise (UCI 1.1), which starts in Septèmes-les-Vallons and arrives at the Orange Vélodrome stadium in Marseille at the end of 167.8 km.

Personally, Houle would like to build on the level of performance from last summer in order to fight for victory more often.

He also wishes for a better end to the season at the Montreal and Quebec Grands Prix. In the longer term, the Paris Games 2024 are also on his list.

Common goal

For his part, Guillaume Boivin continues to target the spring classics. No one has forgotten his performance in the rain at Paris-Roubaix in 2021. Despite a crash while flirting with the podium in the final 20km, his ninth place remains a feat.

“That still motivates me. All winter is a process to achieve this. If it happens in Nieuwsblad or Kuurne, I wouldn’t say no, but there are bigger things,” explains the man who, despite a second Tour de France in his career, wants to turn the tide of a complicated season.

“It took me a month without a bike and it felt good. The team expects a little more from all of us and we don’t need to be told that. We have the qualities to win several races.”

Another Quebecer will be in Marseille on Sunday. Robin Plamondon, 23, starts in the colors of the CIC U Nantes Atlantique.