February 11/23 10:07 am - Masters Road Nationals Revived - Moves to Beauce Region

Posted by Editor on 02/11/23
 

After an announcement last month that the Road Nationals for Masters categories was cancelled [see 2023 Masters Road Nationals Organizer Withdraws; Search On for Replacement Host], the organizers of the Tour de Beauce stage race have stepped forward to host the event over the July 1st weekend in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce. The event will be combined with the Quebec provincial Elite road championships.

"Just a few weeks after the Appalachian Classic withdrew from hosting the Canadian Masters Road Championships, we coordinated our efforts to find a quick and efficient solution, without compromising the quality of this event," commented Louis Barbeau, Executive Director of the FQSC, who was pleased with the agility of the players involved. "We called on the Tour de Beauce team because of their experience and expertise in organizing major road races, whether it be the Tour de Beauce, the Quebec Championships or the Canadian Championships. They responded to our request, as they have often done over the past 20 years."

Led by a team well experienced in organizing cycling events, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce corporation had recently agreed to organize the 2023 Quebec Elite Road Cycling Championships, which includes the masters categories. In agreeing to organize the Canadian Road Championships for Masters, it was decided that the two events would be combined in 2023.

In concrete terms, this means that for the Masters races, all Canadians will be eligible for the rankings, medals and jerseys for the Canadian Championships, while only Quebecers will be eligible for the Quebec Championships. Therefore, there will be two separate podiums in the masters categories. It should be noted that the Association des coureurs vétérans (maîtres) du Québec (ACVQ) has been consulted and has agreed to this solution.

In the case of junior and senior age categories, men and women, the Quebec Championships will be reserved exclusively for Quebecers.

"It is with great pleasure that our organization intends to take up this new challenge," added Francis Rancourt, General Manager of the Corporation du Grand Prix Cycliste de Beauce. "We are fortunate to be able to count on a well-trained team, but also on the support of our many local partners, notably the Ville de Saint-Georges, who understand the importance of the benefits of such events for the region."

The Canadian Masters Champions will automatically qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. All information regarding the 2023 Canadian Masters Road Cycling Championships, including the detailed schedule, will be available on Cycling Canada's event page.