July 5/02 11:51 am - Montreal-Quebec Bike Race Revived, SISU Road BC Cup Standings

Posted by Editoress on 07/5/02
 

54th Classic Montreal-Quebec Bike Race Sunday, August 18, 2002

Louis Garneau revives the oldest and longest bike race in North America

It is with much pleasure that Louis Garneau, President/Designer of Louis Garneau Sports Inc., announces that he will revive the oldest and longest bike race in North America.

This famous race, which stopped in 2000, was organized for the first time in 1931 by Louis Quillicot who kept it going until 1954. As the years went by, others took over like René Paquin from 1954 to 1972, Federico Cornelli from 1988 to 1997 and, in 1999, the Impact Group organized the last race which was won by Charles Dionne.

The 250 km long Quebec-Montreal Classic will be held this year from Montreal to Quebec and will be called the "Montreal-Quebec Louis-Garneau Classic", from now on. It will start in front of the Maurice-Richard Arena and will end, after a 2 km 15-degree climb on Chemin du Roy Road, in front of Louis Garneau's factory in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures. This finish promises to be a spectacular one. In the past, this race was won by the best performers on the flat and sprinters . This year however, with the steep hill at the end, the best climbers will have the advantage. A surprising finish is expected


2002 SISU Road BC Cup Hits Midway Mark!
Courtesy Cycling BC

With the Norm Lowe Memorial Road Race, the SISU Road BC Cup hit the halfway point, and with it, the race to clinch the overall Series title explodes as racers enter the last three high profile events of the Series, the Glacier View Grand Prix, Tour de Delta Road Race and the popular, and always challenging, Tour de White Rock Road Race.

Commanding a comfortable lead within the Series, Partone International's Matt Usborne, with his climbing prowess, looks to be a strong favorite going in to the last three events. Team mate to Matt Usborne, the 2002 SISU BC Cup Champion Luca Segato retains a small margin over local strongman and former National team member, Min Van Velzen of Sympatico. Norco's Scott Goguen, a factor in every race he starts, also sits within the top 5.

The return of Sara Neil after a year's sabbatical, see's her return to racing exactly where she has left off, namely, in contention of winning the overall honors of the SISU Road BC Cup Championship. Retaining her lead in the Series with a large points cushion, Trek/Volkswagen's Sara Neil looks to be a strong favorite heading in to the hilly races of New Denver, Delta and White Rock. New comers Dawn Berg (Kappa) and mountain bike stalwart Selena Lawrie (Trek/Volkswagen) continue to battle for second, with former SISU BC Cup Champion Marni Prazsky (Trek/Volkswagen) engaged in a three way battle for third best with notable racers Stephanie Hannos and the experienced Sandy Espeseth (Kappa).

Securing points in the last three events will be pivotal for BC racers in their bid to place in the overall Series, as many of the top points paying positions may be taken by some of North America's top pro teams, including favorites from the Saturn Cycling Team, scheduled to take part in BC's Road Superweek, which starts July 12th with the Tour de Delta, follows through with the return of the Tour de Gastown, and finishes with the Tour de White Rock.

Standings after rounds 1, 2 & 3