Mérite cycliste québécois 2023 : MICHEL BRAZEAU NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

“The U19 team of the ZVP Opto-Réseau club had a fantastic season in 2023. The seven members of the team were all at the front of the stage throughout the season although five of them were at their first year in the Junior category. The boys totaled 21 podiums in around thirty races, it’s remarkable,” mentions Gilles Besner, general director of the André-Chagnon multisports center and also sports director of the club.

Gabriel Séguin and Jonathan Hinse, whom Michel Brazeau has been coaching since they were 12, particularly stood out this year. Gabriel Séguin won the provincial road championship, was selected by the Quebec team for the Canadian Track Championships and for the Tour International de l’Abitibi. Jonathan Hinse collected four silver medals at the Canadian Track Championships last March with the Quebec team jersey, in addition to winning six victories and totaling ten podiums on the road. His performance at the Tour international de l’Abitibi, where he wore the colors of the Canadian team, was particularly noted.

Coming from the Sport-études cycling program at the André-Chagnon Multisports Center, they were able to develop under the wise supervision of coach Brazeau. “Michel has been following the boys since they started cycling. He knows them by heart, knows their strengths, physical and mental. He is impressive with his knowledge of training and a host of small technical details, but he is also a teacher at heart, he knows how to instill confidence in athletes. The advice I hear him repeat most often to runners is “Try things in the race, have fun. This is how you will learn! », Relates the general director.

Young runners from the club are currently enrolled in the sport-study program and their progress is impressive. “Michel continues to develop very good athletes. We have a few right now that are showing really impressive performance numbers. Their progress is constant, structured, they realize it and it motivates them! »

Building on the excellent 2023 season, the 2024 season looks promising. The Club will increase the number of runners in its U19 team and plans to participate in more major events. “Athletes have ambitions, they want to progress, to join big teams. Our job is to give them an environment that allows them to develop. We have the right coach, we have the right program, the right structure, from there, that
It is up to the athlete to be fully involved in their development and to believe in it,” concludes Gilles Besner.

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