Meet Maddie Le Roux of Canyon//SRAM | From Bloem to the World Tour
Maddie Le Roux is an exciting and prodigious talent from Bloemfontein, who, through hard work has opened doors for herself at the highest level of women’s cycling, in Europe. Here’s Maddie:
Where are you from and where do you live?
I’m from Bloemfontein and still live there when I am in South Africa. When I am in Europe I live in Girona, Spain.
How did you get into bike riding?
Originally I did triathlon so riding my bike was never a completely new thing. Just riding my bike as the main sport started because of the COVID lockdown period where I got into Zwift and by the end of 2020 I made the change to cycling. I guess I didn’t ever want to look back one day and think “what if”. It was my Dad who got me into triathlon; we started with running but when I started running away from him we moved onto swimming, but then the same happened so he got me to try triathlon and well, the bug bit. I did triathlon and duathlon for around 10 years, before switching my focus to cycling.
Who or what inspires you?
I rarely need motivation to ride my bike, I just really love being outside on my bike. All my life I’ve always wanted to be a professional athlete, so much that I didn’t actually want to go to university, but, essentially that was not an option so I went, but still never giving up on that dream. The dream has evolved though; to wear the polka dot jersey in the TDF Femme Avec Zwift. I want to be able to use my platform to show others what can be done if you never give up and hopefully I can help others to make the next step up, when and if they want to.
Sum up your racing background and accolades, so far.
I raced with the WCC Women’s Cycling team for two seasons and am now going into my second season with the Canyon//SRAM Generation team. I have done many races in Europe already, including a World Tour race but as many non-European riders, I am still learning and finding my way in the Euro-peloton, because, let’s be honest, the reality is that South African racing is quite a big step lower than European racing. I am however, most proud of my top 10 finish in the Alpes Gresivaudan Classic and of course, winning the Zwift Academy. It might also be good to mention that I mostly ride in the role of a domestique and rarely have the opportunity to ride for a result for myself, as this is after all, a team sport.
Can you give us an idea just how steep the learning curve is when you make the jump from racing in SA, to racing in Europe?
The learning curve is quite steep. South African racing is merely a blimp compared to that in Europe. Frankly not even comparable sad as it is. Which is why I think there are not as many riders from Africa in Europe as there should be (yet)…many teams don’t have the patience to let these riders learn and develop. I am thankful that Canyon//SRAM have been so supportive of my development.
For you, what is the toughest aspect of racing in Europe?
The peloton size. Racing in the peloton is a skill we only get to practice when in Europe.
Congratulations on re-signing with the development team of Canyon//SRAM. What’s it like being part of such a high-profile squad – a team that won the TdF..
It is absolutely amazing to be in such a supportive team. This team knows what they are doing!
In the professional ranks, name three riders of all time, that you have the most respect for and why?
1) Sarah Gigante: She has had to battle some hard things to get to where she is now and I admire her for that. I’m also privileged enough to call her my friend and riding buddy.
2) Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio: She gives me hope that I can also still reach the level she is at and I will forever be grateful for the door she helped opened to get me into Europe.
3) Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig: I just absolutely love how she races and all the emotion she puts into it. Her personality is very energetic and fun to be around and I hope to ride with her in a race soon seeing as she is now in our world tour team.
Tell us about your racing goals.
For 2025 I want to win Nationals and podium at a UCI race. Also, I want to be Maddie v3.0 – the girl who rides in the front of the peloton and supports her teammates to the best of her abilities. At the end of 2025 I want to move up to the World Tour team.
More longer term goals are to race in a WT team, wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France Femme Avec Swift, be on of the best climbers in the women’s pro peloton and then there’s the Olympic Games…
What advice would you offer young South African riders who are wanting to take their riding to a higher level?
Never give up and let someone tell you that you cannot do something. What others think and say about you has nothing to do with you. You just do you! Build a good support network with people who believe in you, then just try your best and trust the process.
Locally and internationally, more and more women are taking up cycling. Why do you think this is?
I think this is AMAZING! I think the more women’s cycling is being broadcasted and shown, the more women and girls will see it as a legitimate career to follow. There’s still work to be done but the fact that cycling participation is increasing amongst women shows how powerful it is that “if you see it you can be it”.
Whether competing or just riding, what is the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced on a bike?
I would say coming back home at the end of 2023 without a contract and being told that I didn’t have what it took to be a professional cyclist, I really was questioning what I was doing with my life. Then not soon after, my mom passed away from breast cancer. These two events, so close to each other really kind of broke me. Not many might know, but during this year I was struggling a lot mentally…to the point where I kind of lost my love for cycling, for sport. Thankfully I’ve been working with a brilliant psychologist, Dr Kirsten van Heerden, who helped me through it. I am not sure if I will ever be the same Maddie as I was before all of this happened, but I know my mom would want me to keep living and chasing my dream. So that is what I am trying to do because I want to believe she is watching.
Favourite recovery meal?
Protein yogurt with cereal OR anything with peanut-/almond butter and coffee.
If you had all the money in the world and had to spend a huge portion on it solving one problem – which would it be?
VISAS! I know it sounds lame and there are many problems in the world more important than this but, as a girl just trying to ride her bike in Europe, it’s really not easy to do so if your not from Europe.
When home and when abroad, what are your favorite riding destinations?
At home I love riding around the George/Grootbrak area and when in Europe, Switzerland is the place to be. Those climbs and the scenery — it’s just, wow!
