August 24/11 15:32 pm - Garneau & Liggett Special Guests for GP Cycliste de Quebec & Montreal

Posted by Editor on 08/24/11
 

The organizing committee of the Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes is delighted to announce the cycling celebrities it has chosen to be the special guests of this year's Québec and Montréal Leaders' Clubs. Louis Garneau has generously accepted the invitation to speak to the Leaders' Club in Québec City, while Phil Liggett will do the honours in Montréal. Their collaboration is part of the Grands Prix Cyclistes' charity initiative, benefiting La Maison Dauphine in Québec City and The Cedars Cancer Institute in Montréal.

A renowned businessman and cycling personality, Louis Garneau will talk about his partnership with the Professional Continental team Europcar, among other topics. Drawing on a pro cycling career that spanned 14 years and brought him 150 victories, Garneau will give a presentation that will serve as an excellent appetizer just moments before the start of the Québec City Grand Prix Cycliste.

Members of the Montréal Leaders' Club, meanwhile, will have the chance to meet a legendary figure from the world of road racing, Phil Liggett. The British commentator and journalist has covered nearly 40 Tours de France and worked for all the major TV networks in the U.S., Australia and Great Britain. A bona fide encyclopedia of modern cycle racing, well known for his commitment to sport as well as charity work, this peerless cycling ambassador is sure to captivate his audience with his endless supply of colourful stories and anecdotes.

Reserved exclusively for 100 people, each Leaders' Club will once again provide members with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience all the excitement of race day while enjoying the many privileges of the VIP Village. Along with coffee and croissants with Louis Garneau or Phil Liggett, members will take part in the ceremonial pre-race toast with the dignitaries in attendance, get up-close views of the riders at the start and finish of the race, sample local Québec cuisine during the lunch-hour buffet, and much more.

The Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes will take place on Friday, September 9, and Sunday, September 11, and will feature some of the greatest pro cycling talents on the planet, including Philippe Gilbert, Andy Schleck, Samuel Sanchez, Damiano Cunego, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sandy Casar, Robert Gesink (the winner of the Montréal race last year), Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Alessandro Ballan (the former world champion), and Ryder Hesjedal (Canada's best road racer since Steve Bauer). Leaders' Club members will get to see all of them up close at the VIP Village.

Tickets for both Québec City and Montréal are available until September 1 at a cost of $1,000, via the website www.gpcqm.ca. A charity tax receipt in the amount of $500 will be issued by Maison Dauphine to Québec City Leaders' Club members, or by The Cedars Cancer Institute to Montréal members.