South Africa’s Carla Swart (MTN-Energade) donnes the polka-dot climbers jersey after today’s race, while Luxemburg’s Nathalie Lamborelle hold onto the red jersey for Best Espoir. After a crash yesterday in Chateauguay, Quebec’s Joelle Numainville (ESGL 93 GSD Gestion) finished as the top Canadian, in eleventh place ; Gina Grain (Webcor Builders), the top Canadian in the general classification, is currently in 15th position.

Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage race being held from June 1 to 4. Tomorrow will see riders competing in two stages throughout Montreal: an individual time trial in Lachine, beginning at 11:30 AM, and the famous Little Italy criterium, taking place in the Rosemont- La Petite Patrie area on St-Laurent Boulevard at 7:15 PM.

Châteauguay, June 1st, 2009- For the third consecutive year, the town of Châteauguay played host to the world’s top female cyclists during the first stage of the Tour du Grand Montréal.

Riders were able to average 43 km/h on the flat, 5.7 km circuit, covering 85.5 km in 15 laps. Netherlands rider, Kirsten Wild (Cervelo Test Team) took the lead in 1:58:42, followed by Americans Lauren Tamayo (Team Tibco) and Martine Bras (Selle Italia-Ghezzi).

Light rain and cool temperatures made for a challenging race, while a multiple rider crash caused a gap in the peloton.  Joëlle Numainville (ESGL93 –GES Gestion), a young Quebec rider involved in the crash, was lapped by the group, but finished the race and will be starting in tomorrow’s stage. Top Canadian, Jenny Trew (Canadian National Team), finished in a remarkable thirteenth place.

Four jerseys are at stake during the Tour du Grand Montréal: the yellow jersey (Quebec) and the sprint jersey (Argon 18), both being worn by Wild, as well as the Cheese’s of Switzerland top rider under-23 jersey, worn by Luxemburg’s Nathalie Lamborelle (Unique-Elk) The queen of the mountain jersey (Swiss International Air Lines) will be handed out following tomorrow’s stage.

The Tour du Grand Montréal is a five-stage race being held from June 1 to 4, 2009. The second stage will take place tomorrow in Granby at the Daniel-Johnson Park at 5:00 p.m.

Montreal, May 29th 2009- Under the honorary presidency of M. Raymond Bachand, Minister of finance, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Quebec will host the world’s best cyclists at the 12th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup on May 30th and the 8th edition of Tour du Grand Montreal from June 1st to 4th.

The Montreal World Cup:
A unique event in the Americas

The Montreal World Cup is the 6th stage of a 10-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.

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 on Saturday May 30th at 12 pm. This will allow for a greater assistance in the afternoon and a better traffic control for vehicles and public transport. The winner should cross the line at around 3pm. It will be followed by the podium where trophies and the World Cup Leader’s Jersey will be handed out.

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. Presence of champions such as Judith Arndt (winner of the Montreal World Cup event in 2008), Emma Pooley (Silver Medalist of the Olympic Time Trial in Beijing) and Emma Johansson (second in the actual World Cup ranking), 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 1 in Châteauguay. This stage will include a 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 2 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 3 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 3 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 on Thursday June 4 in the late afternoon in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. This five-lap-circuit totals 115 km and will have a start-finish area on Chemin Osias-Leduc (in front of la Chocolaterie la Cabosse d’Or). 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. We will host teams like Cervelo Test Team, Columbia High Road, Nurnberger Versicherung, Selle Italia – Ghessi as well as the national teams of Australia, Germany, Colombia, Sweden and Canada.

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. These activities, organized through our events since 2002, promote physical activity and cycling as a healthy sport to students.

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, the Government of Canada, 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.

Montreal, April 17th 2009- Under the honorary presidency of M. Raymond Bachand, Minister of finance, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Quebec will host the world’s best cyclists at the 12th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup and the 8th edition of Tour du Grand Montreal.

The Montreal World Cup:
A unique event in the Americas

The Montreal World Cup is the 6th stage of a 10-leg circuit that takes place across the world. Each year, the Union cycliste internationale assigns only ten world spots to determine the World Cup champion. Montreal hosts the only road cycling World Cup event to take place on the American continent.

The race will start at 12 pm and finish at around 3 pm. The start/arrival zone will be located on Parc Avenue, at the base of Mount Royal. 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 Mount Royal to Jeanne-Mance Park. The circuit of 10.06 kilometer will be completed 11 times for a total distance of 110.66 km.

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.

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 stage will include a 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. The eleven-lap-circuit of 9.46 km totals 104.06 km. The start will be given at 5 pm. Two stages will be disputed on June 4th.

• In the morning, the third stage will take place 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 in the evening, in the Little Italy district (Rosemont – La Petite Patrie), 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 the Vallée-du-Richelieu area. The “Circuit des Vergers” includes the climbing of mount Saint-Hilaire and will be completed 5 times for a total of 115 km. 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.

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 Vallée-du-Richelieu. Furthermore, the local committee of Vallée-du-Richelieu will give the chance to 300 students of 10 schools to participate to a beginner’s cycling workshop. A unique opportunity offered to those young people so they can familiarize with this popular sport!

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.

(english version to come soon)

Montréal, le 5 mars 2009.- C’est avec une grande fierté que le président-directeur général Daniel Manibal accueille monsieur Raymond Bachand, ministre du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation, en tant que président d’honneur de nos événements cyclistes internationaux 2009.

Monsieur Bachand est également député d’Outremont et ministre responsable de la région de Montréal. « Nous sommes profondément touchés par l’acceptation de la présidence d’honneur de M. Bachand. Non seulement les fonctions gouvernementales du ministre sont en accord parfait avec nos événements, mais son dynamisme, ses intérêts et sa personnalité nous ont enchanté. » Monsieur Manibal ajoute que l’acceptation de la présidence d’honneur par Monsieur Bachand est une grande source de motivation et de dépassement pour l’organisation afin de faire rayonner le Grand Montréal et le Québec au niveau international. 

« C'est avec plaisir que j'ai accepté la présidence d'honneur de la Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine 2009. Grâce au savoir-faire et à la capacité d’innover de ses organisateurs, l’événement est aujourd’hui synonyme de retombées économiques et touristiques, ce qui constitue un atout pour le développement de la région de Montréal », a déclaré le ministre Bachand. « De plus, la saine compétition engendrée par le calibre international des athlètes encourage les Québécoises et Québécois amateurs de cyclisme à se dépasser, tout en stimulant le goût de l’activité physique, une valeur fondamentale de notre gouvernement  », a ajouté le ministre.

Les Épreuves de la Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine regroupe deux événements élites d’envergure internationale. La Coupe du monde de cyclisme féminin de Montréal aura lieu le 30 mai prochain sur l’avenue du Parc, au pied du Mont-Royal. Le Tour du Grand Montréal se déroulera du 1er au 4 juin à Châteauguay, Granby, les arrondissements de Rosemont – La Petite Patrie et de Lachine de même qu’à Mont-Saint-Hilaire.