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Jean-Michel Lachance

@cyclist87

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🇨🇦 Athlete, Entrepreneur, Coach

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Quelques images. Qu’est-ce qui s’en vient en 2026 ?

#quebexico #quebecois #quebec taken in Quebec, Quebec by @cyclist87

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9 months ago

Fastest way to be race fit is to race. Went outside my comfort zone and joined very last-minute my friend’s team in Guatemala for 5 days of very high-level racing. With zero acclimatation and having not ridden on the road since November, I suffered quite a lot from the heat and altitude, but still had a blast. Now my training camp can start!

#vueltabantrab🇬🇹 #guatemala #roadracing #pushyourself #nolimits #altitude #heat #lakeatitlan taken in San Pablo Laguna, Solola, Guatemala by @cyclist87

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4 years ago

Une fin de semaine à Montréal pour le Grand Prix cycliste.

C’était mon premier échange simultané, et ça s’est vraiment bien passé. Deux logements, deux villes, les mêmes dates.

Les Championnats du monde viennent de commencer. Venez encourager les Canadiens et jetez un œil à HomeExchange. Plusieurs hôtes sont prêts à vous accueillir !

Promo en cours : les nouveaux membres peuvent obtenir 500 GuestPoints bonus jusqu’à la fin septembre.

Lien de parrainage en bio.
@homeexchangefr

#swapdiaries #ad #homeexchangepartner #montreal #cycling taken in Montreal, Quebec by @cyclist87

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11 days ago

339 km • 5 400 m D+ • 11 h 02

Mathieu Borduas remporte le Défi des 21 pour une deuxième fois.

#quebecenvelo #ultracyclist #defides21 taken in La Baie, Quebec by @cyclist87

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2 months ago

Bonne Saint-Jean ⚜️!

Les dernières semaines ont filé à toute vitesse. Après deux mois en altitude en Amérique du Sud, j'étais motivé pour le début de saison. Mais l'altitude est parfois un couteau à double tranchant et entre les crevaisons et la température, les quelques courses au Québec ont été assez moyennes.

J'ai choisi de laisser ma place au Tour de Beauce cette année pour la visibilité de @quebecenvelo . Un choix difficile, avec l'étape 4 qui se terminait littéralement dans mon entrée. Ça faisait drôle de voir Oscar Sevilla dans mon stationnement après le contre-la-montre. 😅

Mais, voir Léo terminer dans le Top 5 du classement général et décrocher son premier podium UCI, c'est énorme. Je dois dire que je trouve quand même plus difficile d'être staff que de courrir. Comme je disais à Ben Simard, souffrir sur le vélo, c'est un privilège.

#stjeanbaptiste #quebecenvelo #laffaireestketchup taken in Quebec, Quebec by @cyclist87

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3 months ago

The Hidden Cost of Elite Performance: Confessions From a Clean Athlete.

Having taken the last few days to process the intense discussions from the Sport Integrity Symposium in Ottawa earlier this month, I’m opening up about the gritty reality behind safe sport policies. Choosing to compete clean in modern high performance means navigating a pure economic arms race.

My journey has exposed me to every angle of this friction. I've lived the extreme precarity of the level just underneath the pros (continental racing) like at the 2013 Tour of Alberta, where I lined up against Peter Sagan and where I was the only rider in the entire peloton racing on aluminum wheels, until a local fan generously lent me a set of carbons. I’ve faced the brutal tech gap in tandem para-cycling at the Paralympics, and shared podiums with later-sanctioned riders in South America, where cheating is deeply tied to socio-economic survival.

To reuse a powerful definition shared by fellow athletes during the symposium: sports integrity is how you behave when no one is watching. While para-cycling offers some level of equality for physical inequality, the harsh truth remains that in both para and able-bodied categories, there are no rewards for athletes performing "despite" economic or life disadvantages.

To safeguard the current and next generation, we must move past compliance checkboxes and bring active athlete governance directly to the boardroom.

🔗 Read the full reflection, personal journey, and analysis at www.quebecenvelo.com

Swipe through the carousel to see some pictures that highlight my experiences through the journey.

#AthleteAdvocacy #SportIntegrity #HighPerformance taken in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by @cyclist87

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4 months ago

"Michel, ¿por qué vienes a sufrir a Guatemala?"

That’s the question Manuel Rodas asked me during Stage 4. At the moment, I didn’t have an answer. But looking back, it’s simple: I love it. I love these hard, gritty races that push you to the limit.

Three years ago, I showed up here on 48h notice, coming straight from a Canadian winter with "Zwift fitness" to face the best South American climbers. This year was different. With three weeks of endurance in Mexico already in the legs, no return ticket, and a working bike, joining Quici - El Trapiche was an easy "yes."

The week was a true physiological and mental test:

Stage 1: Escaped unscathed from a massive 90km/h peloton crash at the start, but suffered through the crushing heat.

Stage 2: Legs were back on this hilly stage, but losing a water bottle 20km from the summit forced a rationing game. Between the heat, a dropped chain, and a messy caravan, I lost 6 minutes, but I was happy with the power.

Stage 3: The Xela Crit. 80km/h descents and 180° turns at 2300m altitude. I felt comfortable until the I was not — likely under-fueled for those 400W+ surges.

Stage 4 (The Alaska Ascent): Aiming for 310W at 3000m (which feels like 360W at sea level). Distracted by a power meter failure and a messy stomach, I raced on feel but lost contact midway up the climb.

Stage 5: A fast circuit in Guate City. Tried the breakaway before settling on the sprint card but the right move went on a weird finish

Overall;
The altitude prep with the Sisimith family and Cory Wallace was solid, but I completely underestimated the heat. Despite the great work from our massothérapeute, my muscles were missing that "freshness" and "snap" needed for this level of racing.

Huge thanks to:
The Sisimith family; Maynor, Virma, @franciscosisimith , @sisimithfernando_ @dsisimith__ , @e_sisimith who treated me like family,
The Padilla brothers @juliopm92 & @negropadilla88 ,Goretti, Abel, Goyo, @kennethchs 📷, and @danielquicibal for the trust. Thanks to Quici, Restaurant El Trapiche, and Fuel Nutrition for the support. To my teammates Rodrigo, Axel, Diego, and Henry: thanks for the battle. taken in Guatemala City, Guatemala by @cyclist87

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5 months ago

Holy Saturday… Holy Murphy.

Back at the 2026 Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic in Belize. With my first 2 participations filled with mechanics and team tactics, this year I put a solid plan in place; an Airbnb 500m from the finish line, good preparation in Mexico, new cranks, chain, tires, etc.

But while training in Mexico, I realized the frame should also have been replaced along with everything else... I guess 120 000km is too much to ask! The carbon where the wheel axles sit was so worn out that the 11 cog was unusable.

Spent some money to fly back home, swap bikes, and try to keep the plan alive.

Then came the travel chaos: missed connection thanks to insane TSA lines, a 3h layover night in a hotel, lost luggage, and barely 10h at home to rebuild an “old new” bike before flying back to Belize.

Made it back to Belize, felt strong on the new bike… but the saddle came loose on the first ride and I was a bit quick setting it back in position. Over a long, hot, demanding race, I lost my top-end power and quickly realized it wasn't my day.

Oh Belize... I really didn’t want to have to come back...

📷 @cfb.biz taken in Belize City, Belize by @cyclist87

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6 months ago

Good times in Guatemala ☀️🌿🥭 taken in Panajachel, Solola by @cyclist87

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6 months ago

A quick roundtrip to Guanajuato to visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a place I first visited briefly 9 years ago. I am currently on the bus back after staying with a local for my 72nd HomeExchange.

Due to some travel issues, I only had time for one ride, but it was terrific. Two days is definitely not enough for this eclectic city. I will be back soon.

Thanks to HomeExchange for being the best travel partner. Also, thank you to everyone who registered for my live stream. Send me a DM or comment here if you want the link to the replay.

#HomeExchangeDays #Guanajuato #unescoworldheritage #homeexchangepartner #TravelMexico taken in Guanajuato Capital by @cyclist87

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6 months ago

Sometimes “too slow” is exactly the point.

Recovery rides are part of training.

when done right, Easy rides:
- increase blood flow and help your legs repair without adding more stress
- help you absorb the hard work : fitness gains happen after the interval day
- reduce fatigue so you can be more consistent and show up sharper tomorrow
- maintain aerobic efficiency (mitochondria, capillaries, economy) without digging a deeper hole

If it feels “too slow,” you’re probably doing it right. Ask yourself: is the intensity I’m doing aiding recovery or impairing it?

#recoveryride #forsure #gains taken in Quetzaltenango, Quetzaltenango by @cyclist87

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8 months ago

Couple of weeks out west.

Awesome riding, hikes, and connecting with great folks lately. Living out of a suitcase again — getting dangerously efficient at it.

After landing late in Calgary, we headed toward the mountains: a few days in Revelstoke climbing Meadows in the Sky Parkway, then Golden, packed with rides, great coffee, hikes, and a bit of recovery.

Just before the forum, I raced the MyWhoosh semi-worlds qualifier from one of my coached athletes, Brent’s “pain cave.” Yes, I brought my Wahoo on the plane (not recommended). The pack dynamics on MyWhoosh definitely don’t suit my style. Where I could excel on Zwift as a punchy rider, MyWhoosh seems to favor time-trial powerhouses. Think 6.5+ w/kg 20min kinda power. I could blame not mastering the drafting, but truth is, it rewards a different type of rider… and I’m far from my best right now.

Then it was time to switch gears for the Canada Sports Awards and the AthletesCAN Forum. Inspiring days connecting with Olympians, Paralympians, and athlete reps from across the country, all working toward a stronger environment for athletes, on and off the field of play. Proud to represent para-cycling on Cycling Canada’s Athletes’ Council.

Grateful for the people, places, and conversations that filled this trip and for HomeExchange, which once again made it easy (and affordable) to feel at home along the way.

#strategyoverhustle #sharpenthesaw #beproactive taken in Revelstoke, British Columbia by @cyclist87

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a year ago