Edmonton native Paula Findlay was initially attracted to give the Canadian National Time Trial Championships a go when she learned they would be held in her hometown in 2022. The 2012 Olympian has long been considered one of the sport’s top cyclists, but her first national title certainly garnered the attention of both the cycling and triathlon world. After she defended her title last year, Findlay was given the chance to represent Canada at the cycling world championships, finishing 25th.
After a close call getting her bike, triathlon star takes third straight national time-trial title
Findlay never really envisioned a third straight national title in a sport other than triathlon.
“When you win one, it’s nice to go and try to defend it,” Findlay said in an interview after today’s pro panel in Mont-Tremblant as she gets ready for tomorrow’s Ironman Pro Series event. “And the race was in Edmonton in the last two years, which is where I’m from. So that made it extra enticing.”
“Quebec was a bit more of a journey to get to, to race the third time, but I am committed to and I went to the World Championships last year for Canada in the TT, and it was a great experience,” she continued. “I really am enjoying the change of focus a little bit throughout the year to focus a little more on my riding, and I think it’s only helped my tri racing.”
While American triathlete Taylor Knibb’s win at the USA National Time Trial Championship in May guaranteed her a spot on the American Olympic team, that won’t be the case for Findlay.
“Every country obviously has their own criteria, and I think Taylor Knibb is a medal hopeful for the TT for the USA,” Findlay said. “I don’t think I’m quite at that level, but the criteria for Canada was they’re going to focus a little more on the road team. It was loosely in the back of my mind to give it a go, but I would have had to really commit to racing on the road.”
Findlay is certainly no slouch when it comes to pack racing thanks to her years of racing at World Triathlon draft-legal events, but part of the allure to competing in the time trial events is the fact that it isn’t her main emphasis.
“I have a lot of fun with it because there’s no pressure,” she said. “It’s not my job. It’s just like a complimentary thing to what I do every day. So I love the racing and just going all out for 40 minutes versus worrying about four hours of racing … so many things can go wrong in a triathlon, but in bike racing (time trial), it’s really just you against the clock. And I’ve loved. That challenge of just trying to see how high my watts can be for 40 minutes, it’s been fun.”
Findlay is confident that the bike training and competitions have been helpful for her triathlon performances, too.
“I think doing a little mini focus block around the TT racing, which I do every May and June, has really helped my cycling for the summer and the back half of the year,” she said. “I go out and do intervals at 300-plus watts, and that’s not something I’d necessarily do in a tri block. So it has bumped up my threshold of what pain is on the bike, and then when I go back and train for a 70.3, those watts feel a little easier. So, it’s for sure helped, and I think just made me a more well-rounded cyclist in terms of not just power, but also skill.”
After this latest cycle block that has culminated in a third straight national championship, it’s time to get back to her regular job. Tomorrow, less than two days after her big time trial win in St. Georges, Que., Findlay will be taking on some of the sport’s top athletes at Ironman 70.3 Mont-Tremblant. The 2012 Olympian’s popularity has been a pleasant surprise, too. At today’s pro panel Findlay was surrounded by fans.
“It’s overwhelming how many people are TTL (That Triathlon Life – the YouTube channel and brand Findlay shares with her partner Eric Lagerstrom) fans and follow Eric and I and that’s why I love coming to Ironman races,” Findlay said. “More than anything else, it’s just the the age group support of everybody who comes and follows us in our daily lives and feel like they know us, and then they come and see us in person and it it’s really cool for us and for them.”
The post After proving triathletes can ride with the best – Paula Findlay’s big weekend of racing continues on Mont-Tremblant appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.