The very popular Chicoutimi-based mountain-bike event, Le Raid Pierre
Harvey, has been canceled due to a lack of sponsors. Staged in Quebec for
the past 10 years, the 2002 Raid was scheduled to be held again this summer
from Aug. 16 to 18. But organizers pulled the plug on the event in early
April.

“The cancellation is because of a lack of sponsors,” said event president
Roger Giroux. “Things were tough last year and looked to be even tougher
this year. Sponsors are coming forward and going towards athletes. This is
a good thing for athletes, but sponsors are forgetting about the events.”
Giroux said the event lost money in only two of the 10 years that it was
held-including last year, when it was a UIC-sanctioned race.

Giroux said last year’s event, which had an operating budget of $575,000,
lost about $500. He added he wasn’t content with staging an event simply to
break even. Giroux also said he has no plans to revive the event in the
future. “If another organization wants to restart it, I will help,” he
added.