March 3/22 11:50 am - Derek Gee Interview - Entering the European Circuit with a Bang

Posted by Editoress on 03/3/22
 

Derek Gee is one of Canada's top male track riders, a member of the Olympic squad that finished fifth in the Team Pursuit last summer. While he has ridden strongly in domestic road events - finishing third at Road Nationals last Fall in both the time trial and road race - he made a serious commitment to the pro road circuit post-Olympics, signing with Israel Cycling Academy (the Continental team associated with Israel Premier Tech) and moving to Europe.

We spoke with Derek at the training camp for the team last November [see Bauer and Gee Join Israel Start-Up Nation - Interviews], but now we have had a chance to catch up with him after his remarkable performance last weekend with the WorldTour squad at the Gran Camino stage race in Spain - finishing fifth in the final time trial and 23rd overall, while supporting Canadian team mate Mike Woods -winner of Stage 2 and second overall. Derek was at his European base in Girona, Spain.

Canadian Cyclist: It's your first season on the European road circuit and already a top-5.

Derek Gee: Yeah, I definitely wasn't expecting that. I'm really happy with it after a few days of hard racing.

CC: So how is it going? This is different from your usual prep for the track season.

DG: Absolutely. It's going really well, though. The team's been phenomenal in terms of support, and there is a really cool level of integration between the Continental team and the WorldTour team. The staff has been amazing, and it's been the perfect setup to make the transition, and to be in an environment with guys that really know what they are doing, and who I can learn from. It's pretty early days in the season but it's definitely started off on the right foot, and I'm hoping to keep things going like this.

CC: From your perspective, what are the things that really stand out in racing WorldTour races and racers, as opposed to in the past, when you did mostly domestic racing?

DG: It's a totally different racing style. The depth [of the field] is unbelievable at this level. There is so much more nuance that I have to pick up on, so much more learning I have to do. I knew, going into this season, that I was in a good place to learn a lot from the people around me, but I didn't know how much of an advantage that would be. Because there is so much to bike racing over here.

When you get to a certain level of any sport there are so many intricacies that you don't see from the outside, and just the little things that add up. To be able to approach those with an environment where I can learn and start to get those dialed in, is probably the best situation I could ask for.

CC: Any examples?

DG: Well, just the way teams ride is totally different. Having raced domestically, the level is so different - the [domestic] teams aren't so organized, just learning how the pack moves, how it works, the etiquette of the pack. Having guys that have done it for 10-20 years is the best way to pick up on that, because they know the ins and outs of every part of it.

CC: Yes, you were racing against guys like Alejandro Valverde.

DG: It's really cool to be able to line up with people who I've watched on TV from a pretty young age and it is really special, so I have to be in the moment as a bike racer, but the fan inside me is also pretty happy!

CC: So let's talk about the race you just finished - Gran Camino. You obviously had a exceptional time trial in the final stage, but you had already started to move up in the standings before that.

DG: It's coming day by day; every race I learn a little more and can race a little better. It was really cool and inspiring to be part of the team with Mike when he is on such flying form and so dominant on Stage 2. That was really inspiring and pushed me to dig even deeper, and try and help him out as much as I could. It's something special to do that when it's another Canadian, and especially another guy from Ottawa. I can't say enough good things about everyone on that team and all the advice I was getting. I think that's a big part of what helped me get through that race and improve every day.

CC: You are actually on the Continental team; do you know if you will have any other opportunities to ride up with the WorldTour team?

DG: Not yet, but there are a bunch of last minute things that can happen. There are opportunities that come and you have to jump on them. It's a really cool setup that we have because there is really smooth integration between the two teams, so it's pretty seamless going from one squad to the other. Hopefully, another chance soon.

CC: What's next for you?

DG: On Sunday I have Grand Prix Lillers [GP de Ville de Lillers Souvenir Bruno Comini] with the Continental team in France [UCI 1.2]. After that, I believe Tour of Normandy.

(Below) Derek was 3rd in both the ITT and Road race at the 2021 National Championships