July 28/23 12:17 pm - Sad News

Posted by Editoress on 07/28/23
 

We are sorry to report on the passing of Pierre Gagne, at the age of 78, on July 15th. Pierre was a pioneering Canadian commissaire, primarily for road cycling. His service to the sport spanned decades, with one of his first major assignments the 1974 Road World Championships in Montreal. He also worked the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, and the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.

Pierre Gagne, early years - photo courtesy FQSC

However, he was most involved in domestic racing, particularly in Quebec. He was the chief commissaire for the Tour de l'Abitibi a record nine times and, as fate would have it, passed away on the first day of this year's 53rd Tour de l"Abitibi, where a moment of silence was held. He also worked Tour de Beauce and National Championships many times, both as a Chief and in other capacities.

As a photographer on a motorcycle in the race, commissaires generally have a love-hate relationship with me. The good ones recognize the necessity of my work documenting the race, but are always nervous about safety and the potential for affecting the race. I worked with Pierre frequently, because when he wasn't the Chief, he could usually be found in the race as a moto official. Indeed, in his retirement from UCI level officiating, he worked with the Quebec EMC motorcycle group, instructing them on how to work bike races.

He would always sternly warn me before the start of races about making sure I followed his directions, and those of the Race Director, but in the race gave me every possible opportunity I needed to photograph the action. After the races he was always up for discussing what happened in the race; he had a passion for the sport.

Louise Lalonde, another legendary Canadian commissaire, said: "On a personal note, he was my friend and colleague for 48 years, we worked together often and we enjoyed it."

Pierre Gagne (center) - photo courtesy Louise Lalonde

Louis Barbeau, Secretary-General of the FQSC said in a statement, "Thanks to his unwavering dedication and active involvement in our federation, Pierre became an invaluable pillar for training commissaries. Moreover, he played a crucial role in developing tailored training programs for cyclists holding various positions during cycle races, all with the aim of ensuring well-structured road races. It's impossible not to acknowledge the impact he had on our organization. His professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to constantly enhancing the quality of events earned him great respect from all those who worked with him."

Today, a ceremony of remembrance was held at the Complexe funéraire des Trembles, located at 15005 rue Sherbrooke East, in Montreal.

FQSC Tribute