Joey Desjardins is taking a different route, but he is focused on one more world championship.
The 38-year-old Champlain Township para cyclist is currently in Zurich, Switzerland for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships. Desjardins, who competes in the H3 hand cycle class, also competed at the world championships in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. He represented Canada at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which were held in 2021 due to a delay from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Desjardins was not selected to be part of Team Canada at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The current competition in Zurich will be the last of Desjardins’ international para cycling career.
“I always had Zurich as my last competition,” he said.
Desjardins became a paraplegic as the result of a dirt bike crash in 2009. He began para cycling after recovering.
Desjardins is planning to take some time away from the sport, spend time with his wife Vanessa, daughters Stella and Zayla, and plan his future career. However, Desjardins does not plan to stop cycling.
“Our roads are so great around here,” he remarked.
Indeed, Desjardins is often spotted along local roads cycling.
Desjardins is also a mentor and friend to others in his sport, including para cyclist Maarten Duif, originally of Listowel in western Ontario, who now resides in Carleton Place.
“He’s up and coming. He’s going to do good,” Desjardins said.
Not being selected to compete in Paris was difficult for Desjardins.
“I gave everything I could,” he emphasized.
He unsuccessfully appealed the decision that denied his selection for Paris.
“I would not leave any stone unturned,” Desjardins said.
He explained that spaces are very limited for paralympic teams, and the selection criteria is narrowed down to score percentages within percentages, along with other categories.
Not competing in Paris did not influence Desjardins’ decision to step away from competition. He had already been planning to take a different direction and transition to a different career.
“I’m active for life. I’m going to do things I enjoy, and I really like biking,” he said.
“Maybe I’ll come home world champion,” he added, referring to the competition in Zurich.
Desjardins hopes the determination he has given to training transfers into further career success.
Community support has been a big part of Desjardins’ cycling career. Individuals and organizations have often come together to offer their support, either in spirit or to help cover expenses associated with competition. Before leaving to compete in Tokyo in 2021, a group of neighbours and friends gathered at the corner of Bangs Road and Greenlane Road West for a special sendoff rally.
“It’s special to look back and see how much support I’ve got,” Desjardins commented.
Visiting local schools to discuss his cycling career with students has always been a highlight for Desjardins.
“I really like going into schools,” he said.
In June 2024, students at Pleasant Corners Public School near Vankleek Hill held a business fair where all of the funds raised went toward Desjardins’ expenses for Zurich. The school also held a community bike ride with Desjardins.
