June 21, 2007 (Val-d’Or, Quebec) — Organizers of the 2007 Tour de l’Abitibi (TA) in north-western Quebec have unveiled details of the event’s eight stages taking place from July 16 to 22. The UCI-sanctioned event sees its 39th edition in 2007.

Keeping with a proven winning formula and adding a touch of diversity, the 2007 Tour de l’Abitibi should provide a challenge to all riders and a thrilling display for spectators. For the July 20 urban circuit stage in Val d’Or, both the start and finish line will be located at the Belvedere lookout. When the finish line was put here in 2006, this location was well-appreciated by many spectators, who enjoyed the city’s enchanting location. In this year’s Tour, the urban circuit will require cyclists to race 10 laps around an 8km course.

The 2007 edition holds another innovation: an entire stage will take place in the town of Amos. As announced on June 4th, Amos will welcome a criterium in which cyclists will race 45 laps around a 1.4km circuit. Amos has a strong cycling traction and also happens to be the home town of both Keven Lacombe (VW Trek) who mounted the TA podium in 2002 and was leading the 2003 TA before crashing. Karol-Ann Canuel (Specialized-Vinci-Menikini) also hails from Amos.

As for the winning formulas inaugurated in the 2006 edition, they are back again this year. The 400 meter parallel time-trial sprint will be presented as the prologue and the urban team time-trial race will once again be part of the program.

The grand classics of this international event have not lost their place either. For the seventh year in a row, the start line of the individual time-trial race will be 90 meters underground at La Cité de l’Or, a former gold mine turned into a tourist attraction. The finish line of this TT will be on Perrault Street in Val d’Or. The road race stages in the towns of Rouyn-Noranda, Senneterre and Preissac, are still part of the competition.

Founded in 1969, the TA saw 26 participating teams in 2006, including teams from Belgium, Japan, Sweden, and Texas. The 2006 edition was won by Mark Hinnen of the Canadian team competing against a field of 137 cyclists. Each year, the best junior male riders travel to Abitibi at the end of July to compete in this prestigious event.

For more information please visit www.tourabitibi.qc.ca

2007 Tour de l’Abitibi Stages

Monday, July 16 – Prologue
– TT parallel Sprint” 400 m, Val-d’Or
– 400 metres

Tuesday, July 17 – Stage #1
– Road Race – Val-d’Or to Rouyn-Noranda
– 114.5km – (2 x 3.3km + 107.9km)

Tuesday, July 17 – Stage #2
– Time Trial – Val-d’Or (City Hall) to Val-d’Or (City Hall)
– 8.6km (2 x ± 4.3 km)

Wednesday, July 18 — Stage #3
– Road Race — Senneterre (police office/SQ) to Val d’Or (police office/SQ)
– 94.7km

Thursday, July 19 — Stage #4
– TT — Cite de l’Or (gold mine) to Val d’Or (Perrault Street)
– 14.5km

Thursday, July 19 — Stage #5
– Criterium — Amos to Amos
– 63km (45 X 1.4km)

Friday, July 20 — Stage #6
– Road Race (Urban circuit)- Val-d’Or (Belvedere) to Val-d’Or (Belvedere)
– 80km (8 X 10km)

Saturday, July 21 — Stage #7
– Road Race – Preissac (church) to Val-d’Or (City Hall)
– 94.4km

Sunday, July 22 — Stage #8
– Criterium — Val-d’Or (City Hall) to Val-d’Or (City Hall)
– 54.6km (21 X 2.6km)

Total distance : 525.9 kms