Photo is the property of Team Novo Nordisk
Just over a year ago I had the honor of sitting down with two members of the development team for Team Novo Nordisk. One of those men was Quentin Valognes a frenchman that never stopped smiling while I was with the team for two days. At the time Quentin spoke very broken English, he could speak three other languages and was learning his fourth in English. Quentin is a very intimidating person when it comes to bike racing, he has the biggest legs I have ever seen in person. I thought I had big legs but my legs look like that of a seven year old compared to Quentins. Other than his legs Quentin is not very intimidating, he is the most outgoing, fun loving, caring person you will ever meet. I remember sitting with Quentin before a race in Boston and Quentin was speaking french to another rider as two cute women walked past the team. Quentin said hi in French and the women giggled and kept walking, once they were around the corner I looked at Quentin and said "Cute huh" he almost fell on the ground laughing and gave me a playful hug. Quentin is just one of the guys and loves every second of his life.
You would think that someone with such an outgoing and fun personality would have a tough time being a professional bike racer. Someone like that can't have a killer instinct, that is not the case when it comes to Quentin. The smile that is present before and after every race is gone while on the bike and competing. Quentin looks like he wants to rip the legs off of every single cyclist in the field. Quentin has a work ethic that many wish they had. I can go on and on about how hard Quentin works on and off the bike but all you need to know is that he taught himself five languages!!! FIVE!!! Learning one language is tough enough never mind five!!
Quentin started the 2016 cycling season as a member of the development team. Thats an honor for every member of the team but the ultimate goal is to be on the pro team for Team Novo Nordisk. Quentin worked his butt off and competed to the best of his ability, Quentin got the call to the pro team as a stagiaire on August 2nd (An amateur rider, who is taken in by a professional team during the season. This lets the rider get some experience at riding a few pro races, and the team gets a chance to assess the abilities of the rider.) Quentin had reached his goal in August and since that day in August he has made the most of his opportunity. Quentin is making a name for himself finishing in the top 20 in the first stage of his pro career!! He enjoyed that but didn't rest, he has at least four top 25 finishes since that stage. Ask Quentin about it and he will say "I couldn't have done it without my team" The language he answers in will be a mystery but no matter the language he will never put himself before the team. Quentin is a true gentleman and loves his teammates, he would finish last so that a teammate could finish first.
As Quentin has made his journey from the development team to the pro team I have been following his progress like I'm his brother. Quentin treated me like his brother for two days, seeing him succeed as a person and as a cyclist has been so motivational for myself and so many others living with diabetes. Quentin has a book coming out this fall, you can preorder his book until October 1st from his website, http://quentinvalognes.com/2016/09/12/diab-un-ami-pour-la-vie-ouverture-des-pre-commandes/
Quentin has learned five languages and is teaching myself and many of his followers the French language. I have learned a little French from Quentin in the past year, some in person but a lot of it from his posts on Facebook which are in French. Yes I hit the translate button but not as quickly as a year ago. Quentin will be a name to remember as Team Novo Nordisk works its way to the Tour de France in 2021!!
You would think that someone with such an outgoing and fun personality would have a tough time being a professional bike racer. Someone like that can't have a killer instinct, that is not the case when it comes to Quentin. The smile that is present before and after every race is gone while on the bike and competing. Quentin looks like he wants to rip the legs off of every single cyclist in the field. Quentin has a work ethic that many wish they had. I can go on and on about how hard Quentin works on and off the bike but all you need to know is that he taught himself five languages!!! FIVE!!! Learning one language is tough enough never mind five!!
Quentin started the 2016 cycling season as a member of the development team. Thats an honor for every member of the team but the ultimate goal is to be on the pro team for Team Novo Nordisk. Quentin worked his butt off and competed to the best of his ability, Quentin got the call to the pro team as a stagiaire on August 2nd (An amateur rider, who is taken in by a professional team during the season. This lets the rider get some experience at riding a few pro races, and the team gets a chance to assess the abilities of the rider.) Quentin had reached his goal in August and since that day in August he has made the most of his opportunity. Quentin is making a name for himself finishing in the top 20 in the first stage of his pro career!! He enjoyed that but didn't rest, he has at least four top 25 finishes since that stage. Ask Quentin about it and he will say "I couldn't have done it without my team" The language he answers in will be a mystery but no matter the language he will never put himself before the team. Quentin is a true gentleman and loves his teammates, he would finish last so that a teammate could finish first.
As Quentin has made his journey from the development team to the pro team I have been following his progress like I'm his brother. Quentin treated me like his brother for two days, seeing him succeed as a person and as a cyclist has been so motivational for myself and so many others living with diabetes. Quentin has a book coming out this fall, you can preorder his book until October 1st from his website, http://quentinvalognes.com/2016/09/12/diab-un-ami-pour-la-vie-ouverture-des-pre-commandes/
Quentin has learned five languages and is teaching myself and many of his followers the French language. I have learned a little French from Quentin in the past year, some in person but a lot of it from his posts on Facebook which are in French. Yes I hit the translate button but not as quickly as a year ago. Quentin will be a name to remember as Team Novo Nordisk works its way to the Tour de France in 2021!!
Photo is the property of Quentin Valognes
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