November 9, 2026

Simon Defrance in 2026: Montréal silver and a Chrono des Nations win

Simon Defrance roule en tenue de l’équipe de France avec une bande nasale BreathersBliss

On 18 October 2026 in Les Herbiers, Simon Defrance won the Chrono des Nations junior time trial, beating Belgian team-mate Vic de Smet by 20 seconds. Less than a month after taking silver in the junior road race at the Montréal World Championships, he earned a result in a very different kind of race.

From Chantonnay to Belgium and Montréal

Defrance won the French junior road title at Chantonnay for Soudal Quick-Step U19. In late August he attacked on the Kemmelberg and won La Route des Géants alone. On 24 September in Montréal, in French national kit, he finished second in the junior world road race, 42 seconds behind Spain’s Benjamín Noval. The results span a hilly one-day race, a national title and the World Championships.

The next step is U23

On 12 October, UAE Team Emirates Gen Z announced that Defrance would join its U23 development squad for 2027. His win against the clock closed a junior season that had also brought strong results on very different road courses.

Simon Defrance × BreathersBliss

Simon Defrance is an official BreathersBliss ambassador and part of Team BreathersBliss Europe. In this photograph he wears a BreathersBliss nasal strip in French national team kit. It shows how the strip sits while riding with a helmet and cycling glasses.

Meet Simon Defrance

Breathing on the bike, from climbs to time trials

Riding in a group means adjusting to surges. In a time trial, the challenge is sustaining an effort in an aerodynamic position. Compare how you feel at a steady pace and on a climb during training. On gentler sections, ease your shoulders and let your breathing adapt as the intensity changes.

Manage your breathing on climbs

Why some cyclists use external nasal strips

An external nasal strip adheres across the nose and gently pulls on the sides to help keep the nasal entrance open. The goal is local airflow comfort. A review of research on external dilators found no significant improvement in VO₂ max during exercise. Simon’s photograph shows a strip being worn while cycling.

Nasal strips for cycling

Intense nasal strips for sport

Intense is the higher-grip BreathersBliss range of external nasal strips, available in black, white and pink. Apply to clean, dry skin, press down both ends and check that your glasses still sit comfortably. Try it on a familiar training ride before using it in a race.

Explore Intense nasal strips

Hydration and electrolytes for cycling

Sweat carries away water and salts, especially sodium. Temperature, ride length and your individual sweat rate affect your needs. Check where you can refill and try your chosen drink in training. Sodium, potassium and magnesium are electrolytes. An electrolyte drink can supplement water when conditions and your needs call for it.

Explore Sport & Hydration Electrolytes

Plan your bottles for an endurance ride

On a short ride in mild weather, water may be enough. For longer or hotter outings, plan around duration, temperature and refill points. To learn about your sweat rate, compare your body mass before and after a familiar training ride and account for the fluid you drank. If using an electrolyte mix, follow the dilution instructions and test the taste and your tolerance in training.

Plan your cycling bottles · Estimate your sweat rate

The BreathersBliss Athlete Pack brings Intense nasal strips and electrolytes together for your own ride routine.

Explore the Athlete Pack

Meet Simon Defrance · Explore the BreathersBliss profiles