September 25/06 11:49 am - Montreal-Boston Cycling Tour Receives UCI 2.1 Rank

Posted by Editoress on 09/25/06
 

International Cycling Union Grants 2.1 Licence To Montreal-Boston Cyclng Tour
Courtesy Jacinthe Lemire

The CEO of the International Cycling Union (UCI), the international governing body of cycling, announced Friday afternoon that the first edition of the Montreal-Boston Cycling Tour would be held August 4th to the 11th, 2007, and that the tour would be granted a 2.1 license.

Such a 2.1 license enables the organizers to invite teams of Tour de France calibre, as well as national team selections and the best teams representing the USA, Canada, Mexico and South America.

“I think that this new international event could become one of the best cycling events in the world”, said the CEO of the UCI, Irishman Pat McQuaid, in front of the elated USA and Canadian delegations.

“We are really thrilled” said CEO of the event, Daniel Manibal, a seasoned organizer of world cup cycling events and the principal behind the venture. “After three years of hard work, the UCI not only grants us a unique race but bonifies it by according us the 2.1 license,” said Manibal.

“I would particularly like to mention that without the presence (in order of market) of Bruce Hyde (Commissioner, Department of Tourism and Marketing) State of Vermont, Van McLeod, (commissioner, Department of Cultural Resources), State of New Hampshire and Ms Julie Burns (Director of Arts, Tourism and Special Events) of the city of Boston, this happening would have been impossible. These last three, along with the extraordinary presence of the minister of Education, Leisure and Sports of the Province of Quebec in Canada, Jean-Marc Fournier, have convinced the board and the president of the UCI of the importance of this event in northeastern North America.”

A press conference will be held by the end of October.