Pier-Andre Cote is stepping up from the Israel-Premier Tech academy, becoming the sixth Canadian on the pro cycling team.
The 27-year-old from Gaspe, Que., will join the Israel-Premier Tech pro team in 2025 on a two-year contract. Other Canadians on the roster are Michael Woods, Guillaume Boivin, Derek Gee, Hugo Houle and Riley Pickrell.
Cote is coming off a fifth-place finish in the general classification at CRO Race, formerly known as the Tour of Croatia.
"Pier-Andre has been an exceptional teammate all season and has stepped up to the pro team from the academy on many occasions," Israel-Premier Tech IPT general manager Kjell Carlstrom said in a statement. "His result at CRO Race was just another example of Pier-Andre stepping up and making the most of an opportunity given to him. There will be many more opportunities to come in the next two years and I have no doubt Pier-Andre will excel in our pro team.”
Cote previously finished 10th overall in the Baloise Belgium Tour and fifth in the one-day Druivenkoers-Overijse race in Belgium.
“The racing this year has been great,” Cote said. “I have done a good amount with the pros and it's so motivating to be working towards a victory or a team performance with such great athletes. To be surrounded with top-level and all-around great guys is empowering and it has allowed me to get the best out of myself.”
Cote won the time trial at the Canadian championships in June and finished second behind Woods in the road race.
"I have been surprising myself in all sorts of terrain lately, so I'm hoping I can keep going down this road and just become a better all-rounder,” he said. “I'm hoping I can bring my versatility into the classics and find success there.
"As far as a main goal for the next years is concerned, if I had to narrow it down to just the one, I would like to keep heading towards becoming the best bike racer I can possibly be."
Israel-Premier Tech has plenty of Canadian connections.
Canadian-Israeli entrepreneur Sylvan Adams is one of the owners. Canadians Jean Belanger, president and CEO of Premier Tech based in Rivière-du-Loup. Que., and Kevin Ham are also partners in the team.
Former star rider Steve Bauer is the head sports director while fellow Canadian Paulo Saldanha is the team's performance director.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press