Athlete Profile: Julien Gagné

Julien Gagné is gravel

Who’s this guy, Julien Gagné? Get to know “the new kid” on The Movement, his training routine, and his race setup for the season.

This season, a new athlete joined The Movement: Julien Gagné. With the release of the new Hatchet lineup, the timing was perfect to support a promising and passionate gravel athlete like Julien. Get to know the “new guy,” his training routine, and his race machine.

He’s flying out to Kansas this weekend for the legendary Unbound Gravel — the biggest gravel race in North America. So we asked him a few questions before his departure.

His passion for cycling goes all the way back to when his dad used to tow him around in a little buggy. Then came the trail-a-bike and training wheels. You could say he was born to ride.

He grew up riding with his local club before making the leap to the XCO World Cup circuit. After a few seasons, he transitioned to road cycling, racing for several years across North America and Europe.

These experiences eventually led him to combine two of his greatest passions: the thrill of the mountains and the challenge of endurance.

I’m truly having a blast, and when I’m having fun—I go fast! I hope that joy becomes contagious and inspires others to get out and ride.

– Julien Gagné

For Julien, cycling is much more than a sport. It's a way of life, a means of transportation, and a true form of therapy, bringing a deep sense of freedom. In his eyes, a planet with more bikes and more cyclists is a better planet.

Q & A

What’s the one event circled in red on your calendar this year?

Unbound. It’s the coolest race to win. The 320km course, the high risk of flats, potential sticky mud, and elite field make it truly epic.

Your go-to cheat meal?

A nice plate of celery and raw veggies with no dip… haha. Honestly, a big burger and a cold post-race beer are hard to beat.

How many hours have you logged on Zwift this winter?

Too many. In 2025, I’ve already clocked over 12,000 km and 340 hours of riding — 90–95% of that on Zwift…

Favorite training ride?

Leaving on a sunny summer morning, getting lost for 150km that turns into 200km, gunning it to make it just in time for the Thursday evening group ride at Qui Roule, finishing totally spent and enjoying a beer with friends at the shop before ending the day with a final 15km night commute home. A full 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. kind of day.

Worst training session?

5 hours of endurance on Zwift, finishing with an hour of heat training (dressed like I’m going snowmobiling, no fan…)

Creamy or traditional ?

Trad !

Race or event you're most proud of in your career?

Going solo after 170km of racing with 100km still to go at Gravel Locos last May. It was a crazy move, but so fun to be the solo carrot out front pushing hard. 100km alone is a long haul — I didn’t think I could pull it off. I’ve never pushed myself to the limit like that. I was cramping everywhere at the finish line.

If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Exploring New Zealand or Chile — mountains, varied climates, stunning nature. That said, we’re pretty lucky in the Eastern Townships. I’m always happy to ride here, and we might just have the best gravel roads on Earth.