Judith Arndt Wins the Tour du Grand Montréal

Canadian Felicia Gomez wins two jerseys: queen of the mountain and best athlete over 35 years old

Mont-Saint-Hilaire, June 5, 2008 - The new queen of the Tour du Grand Montréal was crowned today under beautiful sunny skies at the last stage in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. Not only did Judith Arndt win the Mont-Saint-Hilaire stage, but she was also the winner in the overall standings which gives her the traditional yellow jersey. The second and third positions of the stage went to American Brooke Miller (TEAM Tibco) and to French cyclist Audrey Cordon (Vienne-Futuroscope).

 Arndt grabbed the yellow jersey from Suzanne De Goede (Nurnberger Team), who finished in second position, 16 seconds behind the winner. Oenone Wood, last year’s Tour du Grand Montréal champion, finished in third position overall this year, 20 seconds behind Arndt. De Goede captured the green Natur-a jersey as the sprint leader. Canadian Felicia Gomez won two jerseys: the SWISS jersey for queen of the mountain and the jersey for the best athlete over 35 years old, awarded by Argon 18.

As for the other Canadians, Erinne Willock (Webcor) put on a sterling performance, finishing in sixth position, followed by Gomez (Aaron's) in seventh. Anne Samplonius finished tenth and Joelle Numainville came in twenty-eighth.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage race held from June 2 to 5, 2008. Most of the athletes will continue their Canadian tour in Prince Edward Island where they will take part in the PEI Tour.

Suzanne De Goede takes the Little Italy criterium

Montreal, June 4, 2008 – Suzanne De Goede (Nurnberger Team) of the Netherlands claimed victory in the fourth stage of the Tour du Grand Montréal which took place in Montreal’s Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough. The cyclists rode the one-kilometre circuit 50 times, to the great enjoyment of the crowd that had gathered along St-Laurent Boulevard to cheer them on. Last year’s winner, Oenone Wood (Team High Road), finished second, followed by fellow Australian Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors) who finished third in the stage with the same time as Suzanne De Goede. With the bonus points from last evening’s race, De Goede is now the overall leader, Judith Arndt is two seconds behind her and Oenone Wood is in third position overall, 13 seconds behind the leader. Canadian cyclist Erinne Willock placed seventh in the stage, 25 seconds behind the winner.

De Goede is now in possession of the yellow leader’s jersey and the sprint jersey. Canadian Anne Samplonius still has claim to the silver jersey for the best overall cyclist over 35 years old. Samplonius is in tenth place overall.

The American rider Lauren Franges (Team Tibco) displayed her sprinting talent by winning four intermediate sprints for cash prizes. Franges broke away in the middle of the race and held the lead for almost 10 laps before the pack caught up to her. Quebecer Joëlle Numainville raced well yesterday evening to finish tenth. She is in thirty-seventh place overall.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage road race that takes place from June 2 to 5, 2008. The final stage will be today at Mont Saint Hilaire at 4:15 p.m. Most of the teams will then head to beautiful Prince Edward Island to compete in the PEI Tour from June 8 to 12, 2008.

Judith Arndt wins the Lachine stage and is first overall

Granby, June 3, 2008 – German cyclist Judith Arndt (Team High Road) triumphed this afternoon in the third stage of Tour du Grand Montréal in Lachine. Arndt clocked 50 km per hour in the 3.5 km time trial to secure another win and take first place overall. Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nurnberger) trailed Arndt by five seconds and Katherine Bates (Team High Road) finished third, 14 seconds behind the winner. Erine Willock finished in seventh place and Anne Samplonius came in eleventh.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage road race that takes place from June 2 to 5, 2008. The fourth stage—the infamous Little Italy criterium—will be held this evening on St-Laurent Boulevard in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough at 7:15 p.m.

Judith Arndt Wins the Granby Stage

Regina Schleicher holds onto the yellow jersey; Canadian Felicia Gomez wins the polka dot jersey

Granby, June 3, 2008 – Judith Arndt of Germany (Team High Road) won the second stage of the Tour du Grand Montréal today in Granby. Riders covered the 9.46 km circuit 11 times for a total of 104 km. Arndt pulled ahead in a breakaway five kilometres before the end of the stage and finished solo, six seconds ahead of Regina Schleicher (Team Nurnberger Versicherung) and her team-mate Oenone Wood, who took second and third place, respectively.

Regina Schleicher retains the yellow jersey and Dutch rider De Goede (Nurnberger Team) also holds onto her sprint jersey. The polka dot jersey, awarded to the best climber, was captured by Canadian Felicia Gomez (Aaron's). And Anne Samplonius is still wearing the silver jersey for the best athlete over  35 years old.

Quebecer Joelle Numainville (ESGL 93 GSD Gestion) had a great race, finishing tenth. “It was a difficult race. I think the group is very strong this year, and it shows during the attacks, the sprints and the finishes.” Clara Hugues, who was in the lead during most of the race, finished in 56th place.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage race being held from June 2 to 5, 2008. The third and fourth stages will take place tomorrow in Montreal. The athletes will first compete in a time trial at Rene-Lévesque park in Lachine at 11:30 a.m. They will then pedal along St-Laurent Boulevard in the Rosemont–La Petite Patrie borough as part of the much-vaunted Little Italy criterium that starts at 7:15 p.m.

German Regina Schleicher wins the first stage

Despite a fall, Clara Hugues continues the Tour

Châteauguay, June 2, 2008 – For a second straight year, the town of Châteauguay hosted the world female cycling elite for the first stage of the Tour du Grand Montréal.

The new 5.7 km circuit was covered 15 times to total 85.5 km in all. The flat course meant riders were able to average 42 km/h and then finish in a pack. German rider Regina Schleicher (Nurnberger Versicherung team) took the lead for the second time in a row in 1:59:41, followed by two Australians: Oenone Wood (Team High Road) and Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini Selle Italia Master Colors).

Four jerseys are in the lineup for the Tour du Grand Montréal. Apart from the yellow jersey (Quebec) now worn by Schleicher, the Dutch Suzanne De Goede (Nurnberger Team) captured the jersey as the leader in the sprint (Natur-a). Tanja Hennes (Specialized Designs for Women) nabbed the jersey for the best cyclist over 35 years old (Argon 18). The queen of the mountain jersey (Swiss International Air Lines) will be handed out for the first time at the next stage.

Canadian Clara Hughes took a fall just three laps from the finish. Despite scratches on her left side (knee, hip, elbow, hand), the cyclist, who has been living in Estrie for several years, was able to finish the race. The medical team is confident she will be on hand tomorrow for the Granby stage.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage race being held from June 2 to 5, 2008. The second stage will take place tomorrow in Granby at the Daniel-Johnson Park at 5:00 p.m.

11th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup and 7th  edition of the Tour du Grand Montréal

 

Montreal, May 29th, 2008- Under the honorary presidency of Ms. Francine Senécal, vice chairperson of Montreal’s executive committee, responsible for sports, recreation and Montreal’s Nature Museums, Montreal will host the 11th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup on the UCI Circuit. This eleventh edition will take place on the Mont-Royal circuit beginning at noon on Saturday, May 31st , 2008.

A unique event in the Americas

 

The Montreal World Cup is the 6th stage of a 11-leg circuit that takes place across the world. Each year, the Union cycliste internationale assigns only eleven world spots to determine the World Cup champion. Montreal hosts the only road cycling World Cup event to take place on the American continent. Australia, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland will host World Cup events before Canada (Montreal); the subsequent events will be held in Sweden, France and Germany.

Course

 

Like last year, the Montreal World Cup circuit will depart from and finish at Park Avenue. The circuit will skirt around Jeanne-Mance park. The route will give the public the opportunity to follow the race from various places. The configuration will enable spectators to watch the peloton pass by from our superb site on Mont-Royal to Jeanne-Mance park. This choice of finish site on Park Avenue will enable more people to watch the spectacular race finish after 11 circuit laps of 10,06 km each for a total distance of 110,66 km.

Schedule

The race will start at 12 pm. This will allow for a greater assistance in the afternoon and a better traffic control for vehicles and public transport.

Tour du Grand Montréal, the most important tour in the Americas

 

Quebeckers can be proud of the cycling reputation Quebec has earned over the years. The Tour du Grand Montréal has become the largest road cycling tour in North America. Champions such as Nicole Cooke (first in the general rankings in 2007), Judith Arndt (winner of the Montreal World Cup event in 2006) and Oenone Wood (World Champion in 2005), attest to the quality of athletes who come to race in the greater metropolitan area.

  

Tour du Grand Montréal will comprise 5 stages for the 7th  edition

 

The Tour du Grand Montréal has the highest level of international endorsement. This prestigious race takes place in 5 stages:

• The first stage will take place on Monday, June 2 in Châteauguay. This new stage will include a new road circuit of 5.7 km and 15 laps, for a total of 85.5 km. The race will start at 5:30 pm.

• The second stage will take place on Tuesday, June 3 in Granby. For the second year, the course will remain the same, with a length of 9.46 km and 11 laps, for a total of 104.06 km. The start will be given at 5 pm.

• The third stage will take place on the morning of Wednesday, June 4 in René Lévesque park in Lachine, a district with a well-established cycling culture. The stage will be an individual time trial over 2.8 km. The first start will be at 11:30 am.

• The fourth stage will take place on Wednesday, June 4 in the evening in the Little Italy district, as a criterium of 50 km with intermediary sprints and public prizes. Each year, more and more spectators gather along the race route, providing an electrifying atmosphere. We should emphasize the backing of the Italian community, which wholeheartedly supports the event. The start will be given at 7:15 pm.

• The fifth and final stage will take place in the late afternoon in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. This five-lap-circuit totals 115 km and will have a new start-finish area on Chemin Osias-Leduc. The race will start at 4:15 pm

In addition to the individual rankings for each stage, there will be two general rankings (time, team) and the following awards:

- Best espoir

- Best climber

- Best sprinter

The best cyclists in the world:

The World Cup and the Tour du Grand Montréal will once again welcome the best women cyclists in the world. Once again, we can expect to welcome the cream of the crop of world cycling and the best Quebec and Canadian athletes.

Défis des jeunes

In collaboration with their respective school boards, primary and high school students will have the chance to take part in a friendly race on a section of the Pro Circuit for the stages in Lachine and Mont-Saint-Hilaire.

  

Our partners and sponsors

Such a large event cannot be produced without the ongoing support and generous collaboration of a large number of partners and sponsors. We would like to stress the ongoing support of the Government of Quebec, our host towns, our private sector partners and our media partners. We are very proud to receive the support and collaboration of these partners in organizing this large-scale sporting event. Thanks to them, thousands of amateurs from here and elsewhere can enjoy this sporting and tourist event free of charge.