Marie Soleil Blais
In the summer of 2023, Quebec cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais experienced the Tour Divide race, a cycling event that connects Banff, Canada, with the Mexican border 4,000 km further south. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS
35 years old – Bromont
Cyclist
· Tour Divide 2023
For what?
“It was a huge event that really scared me. I was afraid of riding in the forest at night, surrounded by wild animals, including bears. But this challenge made me want to come out stronger.”
Marie-Soleil Blais, a long-time racing cyclist and member of the national team until 2022, took a completely different path after realizing that she no longer fit the mold. The friendly Quebecer swapped his shiny racing bike for a trail bike to take part in long-distance races.
As a proving ground, she took part in the “endless” Tour Divide not once, but twice. A completely unrelated test that she conducted in secret the first time and officially the second time.
The Tour Divide is a very long hike along the winding paths of North America. The event begins in Banff, Alberta and follows the famous bike path of the same name along the mountain ranges. It ends 4,500 kilometers further south, at the US-Mexico border. The finish line is the very border that separates Antelope Wells from El Berrendo.
While she dreamed of cycling across America after meeting a bike tourist who came to Trois-Rivières from Boston when she was just 12 years old, Blais' dreams later changed.
In the summer of 2023, Quebec cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais experienced the Tour Divide race, a cycling event that connects Banff, Canada, with the Mexican border 4,000 km further south. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS
Olympic mourning
The cyclist, who specialized in time trials, wanted to take part in the Olympic Games. For a variety of reasons, including the UCI's points system during the pandemic and decisions made by the Canadian team, she missed the opportunity presented to her in Tokyo. She is currently grieving painfully for the people of Paris because she has found another way that makes her happy.
Photo of cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais, who has just signed a contract with Astana. At Argon 18, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Wednesday November 14, 2018. SEBASTIEN ST-JEAN/AGENCE QMI Sébastien St-Jean/Agence QMI
“I did everything and tried everything. I see that there is something else in life. I believe that I have found the best thing for me. The Tour Divide helped me get there,” explains the 35-year-old cyclist with a trembling voice. His job had rarely allowed him to make more than $20,000 a year. Even among the professionals, when she rode for a Spanish team.
“When I secretly did the Tour Divide in 2022 to see if I could do it in scouting, I felt so good. “I felt like I was in my place,” she says, holding back her sobs. My voice told me to go where I wanted instead of returning to the locked doors. It’s moving because I’ve been fully invested for so many years.”
In the summer of 2023, Quebec cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais experienced the Tour Divide race, a cycling event that connects Banff, Canada, with the Mexican border 4,000 km further south. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS
Blais could no longer tolerate the rigid and uncompromising framework of the world of road cycling. She was no longer willing to “shut up and accept the nonsense” and swallow her frustrations.
From 70 to 20 days
Blais has a strong, flamboyant and colorful personality. Passionate, intense and determined, she likes to live life to the fullest.
The Tour Divide had fascinated her ever since she saw a documentary about it. She wanted to take on a real challenge and face her fears: go on a long bike ride along mountain and forest trails, sleep outside, camp and ride among forest animals.
In the summer of 2023, Quebec cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais experienced the Tour Divide race, a cycling event that connects Banff, Canada, with the Mexican border 4,000 km further south. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS
“It is a great ordeal. She scared me. But you have to face them in order to be successful and emerge stronger,” she says.
Cyclists complete the 4,500 kilometer journey in 70 days. The Tour Divide endurance machines in less than twenty days.
With a final time of 19 days, 9 hours and 26 minutes, the Quebecer took 8th place among women after an intense and heated battle.
“There is no real stopping. With a loaded bike, I rode an average of 220 km per day. Nights consist of an average of two hours of sleep. Over 24 hours, eating, washing properly to prevent infection, and maintaining equipment all take time. You have to know how to manage your time well and recharge your batteries.”
Strong pain
It was all the more difficult for the person who previously excelled in sprints. She also maintained her “bad eating habits,” which were fueled by sugar. Everything is there: soft drinks, chocolate, sweets, bread, etc. This caused pain in the mouth, tongue, teeth and stomach ache.
“This pace wasn't over two days, but over 19. That's really inexperienced. I didn't have the energy to digest properly. My stomach was constantly under stress.”
After years of riding a bicycle, she thought she could endure the pain of this position in addition to the saddle, but she had seen nothing for thousands of miles.
“My butt hurt without common sense,” she laughs.
However, she was able to forget the pain while contemplating the magnificent landscapes of the journey, which passed through Wyoming, Montana, Colorado on one of, if not the longest mountain bike route in the world.
Extreme feeling
Despite the obstacles and challenges overcome, Blais believes he learned nothing other than how to better manage his energy efficiency during his official test in 2023.
“I didn’t discover strengths in my personality because I knew them. “The same applies to my weaknesses,” explained the one who aimed for the goal in 18 days.
“I pursued a goal by running after the girls in front of me on the track,” she continues. The greatest sense of pride and achievement comes from the most difficult trials. I experienced this by overcoming my fears.
In the summer of 2023, Quebec cyclist Marie-Soleil Blais experienced the Tour Divide race, a cycling event that connects Banff, Canada, with the Mexican border 4,000 km further south. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS
“The feeling of extreme satisfaction arises from extreme challenges. We’re crossing the transformed finish line.”
Blais has found his calling and will never forget it. She also made an interesting documentary about her adventure.
Face to face with a grizzly
The grizzly bear lives in the forests of western Canada, including the forests of Alberta in Banff National Park. AgenceQMI
When she decided to embark on the Tour Divide, Marie-Soleil Blais first wanted to discover the challenge that awaited her. She secretly slipped into the 2022 edition. She was quickly confronted with one of her greatest fears when she came face to face with a grizzly bear while leaving Banff.
“I got the scare of my life. So much so that I was drunk,” she says with enthusiasm and humor.
The omnivorous mammal weighing 125 to 350 kilograms lives in the forests of western Canada. Knowing full well that she might encounter one on her trip, the Quebec woman, who had equipped herself with cans of bear repellent, did not expect it to happen so quickly.
“When I saw him, I froze. I got off my bike and walked backwards as he walked towards me and stared at me. I was dragging my bike and trying to grab my can at the same time. “There’s no way I should stop,” she says.
“When I got there I was so panicked that I couldn’t get the cork out with my frozen hands,” she continues. When I did that, he wasn't far away. While I was spraying him, I was spraying myself at the same time. In the end he walked away and left.”
Spicy snack!
“But for me, in addition to this traumatic encounter that made me nervous for days, I smelled the spices and tasted them for quite a while,” the cyclist summarizes humorously.
Marie-Soleil Blais completed the Tour Divide route in summer 2022. Landscape in Helena, Montana. Photo of Marie-Soleil Blais, taken from her Facebook account Marie-Soleil Blais
We suspect she kept the repellent nearby for the rest of the 2,500-mile journey. However, the terrible encounter gave her confidence because she now knew how to react and proceed.
During her official participation in the event in 2023, she encountered two mountain lions, also known as cougars or cougars. In the darkness she saw two pairs of eyes with their lamp. But the animals moved into the forest without her having to use any means of defense.
In May 2015, Parks Canada authorities issued warnings about the presence of cougars in the Banff area. Posters were posted throughout the area. CORRIE DIMANNO/BANFF CRAG & CANYON/QMI AGENCY