More Quebec ProTour race details

by Hons on Aug 8, 2009 1:03 PM EDT

Apparently many of theses details have been known for a while, but I'm just catching up now. In short, the UCI has granted a five year protour license (to be re-evaluated after two years) for the two races in Quebec city and Montreal to be held September 10th and 12th respectively.

Follow me for more details on the course, broadcasting, and grand vision.

According to race organizer Serge Arsenault "The courses are 99 percent selected"

Courses:

Quebec city - Will use primarily the same course as the Tour de Beauce has used. It will be 290km and travel through old Quebec. Here is this years Tour de Beauce.

Montreal - This course is not totally finiallized but will be between 225 and 240km and use Mount Royal. I can attest first hand that this is not an easy climb. The women's Wolrd cup event does an 11km lap that includes this climb...so if they do a similar course for the Protour event, that means that they will climb Mount Royal (takes off socks to count)...20-22 times. This blows my mind.

Broadcasting: The organizer of these events, Arsenault, is also the owner of a television network here in Quebec, and has said that the two events will be broadcasted in HD, and the best part..."we will use the cameramen and motorcycle drivers from the Tour de France."

Grand Vision: Though the license has been granted for 5 years (2010-2014) the success of the events will be evaluated in 2012, with the possibility of a six year extension at that time. Arsenault has also discussed the possibility of a third event in Boston to make a two week series of regional one-day races in early September (haven't I heard that idea recently?). He hinted that there is a possibility of a world championship bid in the future. He also mentioned that after 2010 these two races will be moved back to the labour day weekend (Mountain Bike World Championships are in Quebec in 2010).

Long story short...plan your fall vacations now...Quebec is the place to be. We (North American cycling fans) need to demonstrate that at least this time, the UCI is not wrong to want to 'globalize' the sport of cycling. Arsenault was the organizer of the men's road World Cup in Montreal in early 1990's. He found that the sport was not ready at that time to leave Europe. He hopes that it's ready now. So do I.

Sources:

CN & Canadian Cyclist

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Comments

What's that smell? Did someone take his socks off?

Sounds excellent except for one thing. Circuit-races are never as good as a point to point race. Don’t ask me why, I’m not a racer. Is it perhaps that riders learn the climbs and troublespots on the course and that makes them less selective in the final stages of the race?

I know it makes for better viewing for the crowds and easier organization but it also makes for a less exciting race.

by Jens on Aug 8, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Absoluly

however, if they are seeing these races as warmups for the WC hen they are perfect. Aren’t he WC always similar in nature?

"It looks like talking, but it’s just words that comes out"
~ Andy Schleck

by Hons on Aug 8, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

bah, circuit races

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Aug 10, 2009 5:18 AM EDT up reply actions

no choice, Mont-Royal is only climb within many km of there

maybe also westmount but it’s right beside mont-royal

I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it

by plinytheelder on Aug 10, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

and the roads in Westmount are pretty narrow

"It looks like talking, but it’s just words that comes out"
~ Andy Schleck

by Hons on Aug 10, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

And...

…keeping a small circuit might be the only way to have some decent road surface.

I’m already ashamed to think the world’s best riders will have to swerve through our world-famous potholes, bumps, patches…

Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)

by MathieuG on Aug 10, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh!

Maybe a way to get some roads repaired or resurfaced. Arsenault has the full support of the PQ Government and Quebec and Montreal mayors. The Quebec heavy construction industry always manages to get their fingers into any piles of government money it seems.

by fancan on Aug 11, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions

They patched up the womens world cup circuit

after 2008 winner Judith Arndt commented in jest that she would donate her winnings to fix the roads.

"It looks like talking, but it’s just words that comes out"
~ Andy Schleck

by Hons on Aug 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Oooh, I better reserve the hotel that I stayed in a couple of years ago

Had to take my bike up several flights of stairs, and there was barely enough space in the room for me and my bike. But riding in QC was awesome. I sat outside at a bar on the part of the Tour de Beauce course where the riders climbed up from the river. It was awesome! Can’t wait until next year!

Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....

by Cyclingrush on Aug 8, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions