So she came up with the mantra, “Full commitment, no regrets” and repeated it all the way to the top step on the podium. One year later, Mags prepared herself to race the world championships as the defending champion in Montreal, practically her backyard.

In the latest film in our Explore series, presented by Wahoo, Mags looks back on her year in the rainbow jersey. From the highs to the lows, she experienced it all. Read on for Mags’ thoughts about her time as world champion.

Your mantra in 2025 was obviously successful. Did you plan to use it again this year in Montreal?

Yeah, it was the same as last year, so full commitment, no regrets. The “no regrets” is really the one that's going to be turning in my head the whole race, I think. Whatever happens on the day, whatever form, whatever legs I have on the day, whatever scenario happens, I want to give it my all and have really no regrets when I cross the line.

In all the years you’ve been riding and racing, what has cycling taught you?

It taught me, in any situation, to find a way to adapt myself and just be tougher – when it's cold you go, when it's raining, you go. If it's nice you go, if it's a bad day you go. Sometimes maybe it's not always the smartest but I think as a kid it taught me a lot. Today, if we go into, let's say one of the Ardennes, pouring rain and super cold I'm like, “Yeah, it's pouring rain and that's fine. I'll do it and it'll be fun!” It made me fall in love more with the sport and also to create that kind of community with good friends that share the same passion. That also was a big big thing for me.

How did it feel to defend your world champion title at home?

From the start of the presentation I was super emotional to be honest. I mean, wearing number one at home and then seeing so many Québécois, Québécoises, Canadiens, Canadiennes there in front was super special. It was also special riding on the roads. Seeing everyone who had come to me for once, to my home and not me coming to their home. So it was super special.

Tell us about your day at worlds this year.

For sure it didn't go the way I wanted. I think even at one lap in, I was out of the race from a crash so it's definitely not what I was expecting but that's cycling and that's the risk of it. That's how it goes sometimes and it was out of my control. I decided I needed to step up in some way, everyone came to watch and I knew a lot of people were there to see me so I did two laps I think to say hi to everyone and then I stopped because it was time but I was glad I could see everyone and I think it even with this challenge, this crash, I think it was a beautiful day.

What went through your mind after the crash?

When I was on the ground Adèle Normand, one of my teammates at the race, stopped and she was like, “Oh, are you okay? I'm going to stay with you,” which was really nice of her because I think having someone in that moment really helped. And then Alexis [Magner] stopped and she told me a few words that actually stuck a lot in my head because I was a bit emotional, to be honest. I think that's normal. And she said, “It doesn't matter what happens today. You won it. You'll always be world champion in 2025 and you know. Always believe in it.”

It took me a lot to get my emotions a bit more in control so that's why I did two laps because the first one, I needed to say hi to everyone and but the first one I could not because my head was a bit all over the place. So on the second lap, I said, “OK, now I say hi to everyone.” I tried to make it worth it and a show for the people who had traveled a lot and just tried to make it a bit special. So I waved to everyone and tried to make everyone a bit cheery and have a smile.

What have you learned from your year in the rainbow jersey?

I want to be the best version of myself. And I'll work as hard as I can to get there. The jersey brought me... How can I say it? The jersey was the start, I would say. It was the start of me believing in myself and the start of pushing myself to go over these steps, these barriers. Just to dream and to believe in myself and in the team.

What were your expectations for being the world champion?

My expectation when I won the jersey was that there was going to be a lot more attention which there was. I'm lucky I had a good team to help me manage it in the best way possible. When I reflect on it now, I just think sometimes things were harder for me because it was pushing me out of my comfort zone a lot but it also came with so much good. I feel like I got closer to the whole team. It was nice to all believe in it together because we saw it was possible. So we saw we could all do it if we did it also together. And just seeing how it brings everyone together. With worlds [in Montreal], seeing how many people showed up and seeing that community, it creates something beautiful. If I can inspire a few people to pursue [cycling] and I saw that actually I did inspire a few people here in Canada and Quebec to to pursue cycling, so it makes me happy.

Is it important to you to feel a sense of community in the sport and to inspire others to ride?

When I see that it's inspired people, it makes me feel really proud. It makes me feel like it's all worth it, all the effort. Because you know you can do it for yourself, but it's a bit boring. I like to do it. I want to do it more for the larger community and to find a purpose in it. And if I can see a few kids that are happy because of it or pursuing a dream – it doesn't need to be cycling but if I can have an impact, then it makes it all worth it.

When I was younger, if I had been able to watch the worlds at home, for sure it would have inspired me so much. I could see the Grand Prix, and that was already a big inspiration for me. But watching the worlds, all the categories, I can already imagine the young kids watching. And I hope we can put stars in their eyes and hopefully get them inspired to ride their bikes.

Looking back on the year, how does it make you feel?

Proud. Proud of everyone. Proud of Quebec, of this event, and proud of the community. I’m proud of the year. I don't feel like it's only me, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved as a country, of how we’ve progressed in cycling.