Lilian Calmejane

France's new star on the mental and physical challenges of bike racing

What’s the best thing about riding your bike for a living?

I love sport, and cycling is a sport which gives you many emotions. For all the sacrifices, all the training and everything else that you put into it, there are few wins. I like winning and to live those rare emotions of winning gives me shivers.

Which is your favourite race?

I’d say stage races to start with. Paris-Nice is a race I like a lot, for example. The hills around Nice aren’t the high mountains but I like racing on them. The landscape around there is beautiful.

Who’s the best domestique in the peloton?