Montreal, May 30, 2009 - Breaking away from the pack on the first climb, English rider Emma Pooley (Team Cervelo) crossed the finish line alone and claimed first place in the Montreal Women’s Cycling World Cup. Resisting all attempts to bring her back into the peloton, she won the race in over three hours and recorded more than a one minute lead on second place Emma Johansson (Sweden National Team). When speaking of her solitary ride, Pooley remarked, “even though it was so difficult to ride alone, I succeeded thanks to the support of my team, my director and the many fans cheering me along the way”. Nurnberger Versicherung rider, Trixi Worrack, placed third.

Though Johannsson finished second, she still leads the World Cup Circuit with a 45 point advantage over Marianne Vos who chose not to compete in today’s World Cup event.

Erinne Willock, a rider familiar with the Montreal circuit, was the top Canadian, finishing in 7th place. Hard work and discipline also paid off for young Quebec rider, Joelle Numainville, who finished an impressive 16th. “This was the toughest race of my career,” she said. “Each lap felt like a stage of the Tour de l’Aude. I am so proud- this is the best finish of my life and the best year of my career!”.

Promoter, Daniel Manibal, was also pleased with the race. “This is the best edition we have ever presented, thanks to the work of the Organization and the volunteers, as well as the unique showing by Pooley”.

Following the World Cup, riders will now compete in the 8th edition of the Tour du Grand Montreal, June 1st – 4th. Stage one takes place in Chateaugay.

Montreal, May 29th 2009- Under the honorary presidency of M. Raymond Bachand, Minister of finance, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Quebec will host the world’s best cyclists at the 12th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup on May 30th and the 8th edition of Tour du Grand Montreal from June 1st to 4th.

The Montreal World Cup:
A unique event in the Americas

The Montreal World Cup is the 6th stage of a 10-leg circuit that takes place across the world. Each year, the Union cycliste internationale assigns only eleven world spots to determine the World Cup champion. Montreal hosts the only road cycling World Cup event to take place on the American continent.

Course

Like last year, the Montreal World Cup circuit will depart from and finish at Park Avenue. The circuit will skirt around Jeanne-Mance park. The route will give the public the opportunity to follow the race from various places. The configuration will enable spectators to watch the peloton pass by from our superb site on Mont-Royal to Jeanne-Mance park. This choice of finish site on Park Avenue will enable more people to watch the spectacular race finish after 11 circuit laps of 10,06 km each for a total distance of 110,66 km.

Schedule

The race will start on Saturday May 30th at 12 pm. This will allow for a greater assistance in the afternoon and a better traffic control for vehicles and public transport. The winner should cross the line at around 3pm. It will be followed by the podium where trophies and the World Cup Leader’s Jersey will be handed out.

Tour du Grand Montréal,
the most important tour in the Americas

Quebeckers can be proud of the cycling reputation Quebec has earned over the years. The Tour du Grand Montréal has become the largest road cycling tour in North America. Presence of champions such as Judith Arndt (winner of the Montreal World Cup event in 2008), Emma Pooley (Silver Medalist of the Olympic Time Trial in Beijing) and Emma Johansson (second in the actual World Cup ranking), attest to the quality of athletes who come to race in the greater metropolitan area.

Tour du Grand Montréal will comprise
5 stages for the 7th  edition

The Tour du Grand Montréal has the highest level of international endorsement. This prestigious race takes place in 5 stages:

• The first stage will take place on Monday, June 1 in Châteauguay. This stage will include a road circuit of 5.7 km and 15 laps, for a total of 85.5 km. The race will start at 5:30 pm.

• The second stage will take place on Tuesday, June 2 in Granby. For the second year, the course will remain the same, with a length of 9.46 km and 11 laps, for a total of 104.06 km. The start will be given at 5 pm.

• The third stage will take place on the morning of Wednesday, June 3 in René Lévesque park in Lachine, a district with a well-established cycling culture. The stage will be an individual time trial over 2.8 km. The first start will be at 11:30 am.

• The fourth stage will take place on Wednesday, June 3 in the evening in the Little Italy district, as a criterium of 50 km with intermediary sprints and public prizes. Each year, more and more spectators gather along the race route, providing an electrifying atmosphere. We should emphasize the backing of the Italian community, which wholeheartedly supports the event. The start will be given at 7:15 pm.

• The fifth and final stage will take place on Thursday June 4 in the late afternoon in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. This five-lap-circuit totals 115 km and will have a start-finish area on Chemin Osias-Leduc (in front of la Chocolaterie la Cabosse d’Or). The race will start at 4:15 pm

In addition to the individual rankings for each stage, there will be two general rankings (time, team) and the following awards:

- Best espoir

- Best climber

- Best sprinter

The best cyclists in the world:

The World Cup and the Tour du Grand Montréal will once again welcome the best women cyclists in the world. Once again, we can expect to welcome the cream of the crop of world cycling and the best Quebec and Canadian athletes. We will host teams like Cervelo Test Team, Columbia High Road, Nurnberger Versicherung, Selle Italia – Ghessi as well as the national teams of Australia, Germany, Colombia, Sweden and Canada.

Défis des jeunes

In collaboration with their respective school boards, primary and high school students will have the chance to take part in a friendly race on a section of the Pro Circuit for the stages in Lachine and Mont-Saint-Hilaire. These activities, organized through our events since 2002, promote physical activity and cycling as a healthy sport to students.

Our partners and sponsors

Such a large event cannot be produced without the ongoing support and generous collaboration of a large number of partners and sponsors. We would like to stress the ongoing support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, our host towns, our private sector partners and our media partners. We are very proud to receive the support and collaboration of these partners in organizing this large-scale sporting event. Thanks to them, thousands of amateurs from here and elsewhere can enjoy this sporting and tourist event free of charge.

Montreal, April 17th 2009- Under the honorary presidency of M. Raymond Bachand, Minister of finance, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Quebec will host the world’s best cyclists at the 12th edition of the Women’s Cycling World Cup and the 8th edition of Tour du Grand Montreal.

The Montreal World Cup: A unique event in the Americas

The Montreal World Cup is the 6th stage of a 10-leg circuit that takes place across the world. Each year, the Union cycliste internationale assigns only ten world spots to determine the World Cup champion. Montreal hosts the only road cycling World Cup event to take place on the American continent.

The race will start at 12 pm and finish at around 3 pm. The start/arrival zone will be located on Parc Avenue, at the base of Mount Royal. The circuit will skirt around Jeanne-Mance Park. The route will give the public the opportunity to follow the race from various places. The configuration will enable spectators to watch the peloton pass by from our superb site on Mount Royal to Jeanne-Mance Park. The circuit of 10.06 kilometer will be completed 11 times for a total distance of 110.66 km.

Tour du Grand Montréal, the most important tour in the Americas

Quebeckers can be proud of the cycling reputation Quebec has earned over the years. The Tour du Grand Montréal has become the largest road cycling tour in North America. Champions such as Nicole Cooke (first in the general rankings in 2007), Judith Arndt (winner of the Montreal World Cup event in 2006) and Oenone Wood (World Champion in 2005), attest to the quality of athletes who come to race in the greater metropolitan area.

The Tour du Grand Montréal has the highest level of international endorsement. This prestigious race takes place in 5 stages.

• The first stage will take place on Monday, June 2, in Châteauguay. This stage will include a road circuit of 5.7 km and 15 laps, for a total of 85.5 km. The race will start at 5:30 pm.

• The second stage will take place on Tuesday, June 3 in Granby. The eleven-lap-circuit of 9.46 km totals 104.06 km. The start will be given at 5 pm. Two stages will be disputed on June 4th.

• In the morning, the third stage will take place in René Lévesque Park in Lachine, a district with a well-established cycling culture. The stage will be an individual time trial over 2.8 km. The first start will be at 11:30 am.

• The fourth stage will take place in the evening, in the Little Italy district (Rosemont – La Petite Patrie), as a criterium of 50 km with intermediary sprints and public prizes. Each year, more and more spectators gather along the race route, providing an electrifying atmosphere. We should emphasize the backing of the Italian community, which wholeheartedly supports the event. The start will be given at 7:15 pm.

• The fifth and final stage will take place in the late afternoon in the Vallée-du-Richelieu area. The “Circuit des Vergers” includes the climbing of mount Saint-Hilaire and will be completed 5 times for a total of 115 km. The race will start at 4:15 pm

In addition to the individual rankings for each stage, there will be two general rankings (time, team) and the following awards: Best Espoir, Best Climber, Best Sprinter.

Défis des jeunes

In collaboration with their respective school boards, primary and high school students will have the chance to take part in a friendly race on a section of the Pro Circuit for the stages in Lachine and Vallée-du-Richelieu. Furthermore, the local committee of Vallée-du-Richelieu will give the chance to 300 students of 10 schools to participate to a beginner’s cycling workshop. A unique opportunity offered to those young people so they can familiarize with this popular sport!

Our partners and sponsors

Such a large event cannot be produced without the ongoing support and generous collaboration of a large number of partners and sponsors. We would like to stress the ongoing support of the Government of Quebec, our host towns, our private sector partners and our media partners. We are very proud to receive the support and collaboration of these partners in organizing this large-scale sporting event. Thanks to them, thousands of amateurs from here and elsewhere can enjoy this sporting and tourist event free of charge.