January 19, 2015 (Montreal, QC) – Gervais Rioux, the president and founder of Montreal-based Argon 18 bikes, is excited that the Bora-Argon 18 team will ride his company’s bikes at the 2015 Tour de France (TdF). The announcement this week gives wild card invitations to five UCI Professional Continental teams, including Bora-Argon 18, to compete at this year’s Tour.

“It was 99% official before this week, but until the official announcement is made, nobody knows for sure what will happen,” Rioux told Pedal by telephone. “The ASO (organizers of the TdF) called teams only a few minutes before the announcement was made. This will be great visibility for Argon 18!”

“We were at the head office of Bora (in Germany) this fall; it was a little bit of stress getting all this organized. Now I am preparing to head off for a 2-week training camp with the team in southern Spain. We will be in Majorca from January 19-29. Argon is sending four people there, including myself.

“It will be a nice getaway,” admitted Rioux but nonetheless he knows about the workload he will find upon his return to Montreal.

Argon 18 is proud to be the first Quebec manufacturer supplying bikes to a TdF team. Previously the company supplied SpiderTech p/b C10, the now defunct Canadian Pro Continental team, but the squad never rode at the TdF. Another Canadian company, Cervelo, was the first bike manufacturer to make it to the Tour. Cannondale, founded in the USA and now owned by Dorel, a Montreal-based company, is also at the Tour.

Louis Garneau Sports (LGS) was the first Quebec-based company to showcase its products at the renowned Tour as the clothing supplier to Team Europcar. “But it is different when you are supplying clothing, like they do, or bikes as we are now doing,” commented Rioux who noted that Garneau has been happy with their TdF sponsorship, especially when Thomas Voeckler was leading the Tour in 2011.

“Argon will provide 150 bikes for the 20-man team; each rider needs a training bike; four racing bikes (for different types of riding conditions) and two spares. There will also be 15 modified Galliums provided specifically for the Paris-Roubaix,” said Rioux adding that one of these bikes can cost as much as $6,000.

“There are 20 riders on the team, but only nine will be selected for the TdF. Bora-Argon 18’s goal is to place someone in the top 10 in the GC,” said Rioux who told Pedal to keep our eyes on Dominik Nerz who previously rode for BMC where he was a domestique for 2011 TdF winner, Cadel Evans. “Nerz finished 14th at the 2013 Vuelta and 19th in 2014,” added Rioux of the 25-year-old German rider. There are no Canadians riding for the team at present.

Rioux remarked on how, not only Argon 18, but also other Canadian bike brands are now held in high esteem worldwide, mentioning competitors like Cervelo, Rocky Mountain, and Devinci. “But with the visibility from the TdF, this can leverage our product into a different league. Our “made in Canada” label is an asset, but with the increased reputation of the Tour and level of appreciation, perhaps consumers will choose our brand over the others.”

Argon 18 also already sponsors three UCI continental teams:

· Champion System Pro Cycling – a US-based team
· Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis – a US-based team
· Silber Pro Cycling – a Canadian-based team

(None of the above teams is a contender for an ASO wildcard invite to the TdF)

Rioux, 54, was the Canadian road champion in 1985 and 1987. He was a national team member from 1981 to 1990 representing Canada at the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and 1986, the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He won the 1983 Tour of Luxembourg, a 3-day stage race, and finished third at Paris-Reims that same year.

After retirement from professional cycling, he founded Argon 18 in 1989 in Montreal. The name is derived from the element, Argon, which is number 18 on the periodic table of elements; it’s also one of six natural noble gases. Today, Argon 18 exports to 40 countries.

www.argon18bike.com