June 28/12 17:11 pm - Tour de Rimouski Broadens its Horizons for 2012

Posted by Editoress on 06/28/12
 

Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski Broadens its Horizons, adds Junior Women, a Cyclosportive and Tour des petits to established program

From July 12 to 15 this year, some 200 young cyclists will take to the streets and roads of the region for the third edition of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski. For the last few months, the organising committee has been working hard preparing for this major sporting event. With just two weeks before the start of the first stage of the Tour, the committee is busy ensuring that everything is in place to run smoothly: confirming the event sponsors of the event, processing team entries and finalizing the details of the event logistics.

This year, in addition to the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski, another important race has been organized: the Grand Prix cycliste de Rimouski, a UCI 1.1 event for Junior Women, to be held on July 11th, 2012. The Grand Prix cycliste de Rimouski is an international-calibre race and is the only UCI-sanctioned 1.1 race for this category in North America. The Tour is proud to announce, in addition to all the other Tour sponsors, the exclusive sponsorship of the Grand Prix cycliste de Rimouski by Hydro-Québec. The event will take place the day before the start of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski. This addition to the racing schedule will most certainly raising the standards of the event.

For this third edition of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski, up to 50 teams may enter. So far, 36 teams have confirmed their participation, of which 22 have signed up for the men's Youth category, 7 for the women's  Youth category, and 7 for the women Juniors. Out of the 144 participants already confirmed, 95 are from Québec, 26 from Ontario, 2 from British Columbia, 16 from the United States, and one from New Zealand. Not to be left out, the region will be represented by a team from the Club Cycliste Rimouski. More than a third of the participants will come from outside Québec. Recently announced, the 2011 champion, Marie-Ève Poisson, will return to Rimouski this year. Also joining the competition is the prestigious American team JETCycling, which will certainly raise the calibre for the women's Youth category. As was the case last year, the National Women's Junior team will use the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski as its final tryout for the selection of the riders who will represent Canada in this summer’s European competitions.


There are some new additions to the schedule for the third edition of the Tour. In addition to the UCI sanctioned women’s Junior race, the 2012 program for the Tour includes some exciting and innovative events to appeal to specific interests: the Cyclosportive of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski and the Tour des petits (children’s race).

The Tour des petits (children’s race) to introduce the younger generation to cycling and promote this sport for the entire family. Whether on tricycles, bicycles with training wheels or bikes, the kids will be able to ride a lap of the criterium course with their parents on the main site of the event, just before the official start of the Tour race on Saturday, July 14. The children will also be accompanied on the course by the honorary president, various dignitaries and the current leaders – the wearers of the yellow jersey's. One of the main aims of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski is to foster an interest in cycling and encourage the next generation of cyclists in the region. As learning about the joys of bike riding knows no age limit, this activity falls under the Tour’s goal of helping young people and their parents discover this wonderful sport.

To reach out to a larger audience of cycling enthusiasts, a new race will take place during the Tour, on Saturday, July 14th. Open to all amateur cyclists aged 16 and over, the Cyclosportive of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski is a cycling event with broad appeal. Participants will have the chance to pit themselves against the same course as the Grand Prix cycliste de Rimouski, with the same safety, supervision and organizational support as the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski. This represents a great opportunity for the young – and young at heart – to share the experience of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski. As the race is listed on the calendar of the cyclosportive series for Québec, about one hundred cyclists are expected to take part. Those who wish to participate can sign up on-line until July 13, 2012 at www.tourdelareleve.ca.

Press release