May 12/00 6:49 am - Bauer Tour at TdF, Hardwood Named Olympic Venue, Bromont Gets $1.9 Million

Posted by Editor on 05/12/00
 

Visit the Tour de France with Steve Bauer

Steve Bauer just let us know that there are still a few spots left for his inaugural trips to the Tour de France this July. Steve will be leading two trips - one July 9-16, and the other July 16-24.

Each offers a unique chance to experience the Tour, since Steve has manage to score passes for the Village Depart (where the teams hang out prior to the start of each stage). Plus, you get the most knowledgeable guide to the Tour you could imagine.

The first tour (2 spots remaining) includes the infamous Mont Ventoux climb, while the second (4 spots) includes the final stage parade down the Champs Elysees in Paris. These are both 'high end' trips, with full support (including a masseuse) and superb accommodations. Contact Steve for more information at: bike@stevebauer.com.


Hardwood Hills Named 2008 MTB Venue

Earlier today a press conference was held at the Hardwood Hills Mountain Bike Centre (approximately 1 hour north of Toronto) to announce that Hardwood had been selected by the 2008 Toronto Olympic Bid Committee as the host venue for mountain biking, in the event that Toronto is successful in its bid for the Games. Curt Harnett, Chair of the Working Group on Cycling for the Bid, made the announcement.

I spoke with Curt after the official stuff to find out way Hardwood was chosen. "Hardwood is a permanent, private site. Unlike other sites, which are public and have constraints on the ability to meet Olympic requirements, Hardwood can work to meet our needs. Hardwood also has a history of development, and they understand the needs of athletes. We want to develop athletic legacies - even before the Games - and Hardwood is very open to our needs."

The venues for the other cycling disciplines are: Exhibition Place on the Toronto waterfront for Track, and two possibilities for Road - Toronto or Hamilton. Both Toronto and Hamilton offer advantages. "If we were able to run through Toronto (using a tough circuit designed by Steve Bauer back in the early 80s), it would be fabulous for spectators, and we could run it right past the (proposed site for the) Athletes Village", said Curt. "However, Hamilton has shown incredible support, and will bend over backwards to give us anything we need."

I also asked about the scenario if Downhill became an Olympic event. Curt replied: "we can only work on what are current events (in the Olympics). While I think Downhill, and Dual, are both potentially very exciting events, the list of sports trying to get into the Games is so long that it would be difficult to see it happening (in time for 2008). If it did happen, though, there is no reason we couldn't have them in somewhere like Blue Mountain (Collingwood)."


Bromont Cycling Centre scores $1.9 Million in Funding

The Quebec provincial government today announced $1.9 million in funding for the Bromont National Cycling Centre. The money is earmarked for the building of a permanent, international quality track facility. The 250 metre outdoor track is to include seating for 2000 spectators, offices, a weight room and sophisticated timing system.

In addition to helping Canadian athletes train and develop, the track is expected to encourage foreign teams to attend and hold camps, and to bring in international level events (such as World Cups). There was no timeline given for when the track will be completed.

The announcement is interesting, given that we have heard rumours that Bromont, a group in Toronto, and possibly one in Edmonton are all looking at bidding (and in some cases have bid) for the Atlanta Olympic track...

In a related announcement from Bromont, the Quebec government has provided a separate grant of $25,000 for the construction of a BMX/Mountain Bike track. The short track will allow coaches to evaluate the technical skills of riders in a controlled environment, and is a project of national coach Eric Van den Eynde.