courtesy of Louis Garneau Sports

July 4, 2002 (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, PQ) – It is with much pleasure that
Louis
Garneau, President of Louis Garneau Sports Inc., announced that he
will revive the oldest and longest bike race in North America.

This famous race, which stopped in 2000, was organized for the first time in
1931 by Louis Quillicot who kept it going until 1954. As the years went by,
others took over like RenÈ Paquin from 1954 to 1972, Federico Cornelli from
1988 until 1997 and, in 1999, the Impact Group organized the last race which
was won by Charles Dionne.

The 250 km long Quebec-Montreal Classic will be held this year from Montreal
to Quebec and will be called the “Montreal-Quebec Louis Garneau Classic”,
from now on. It will start in front of the Maurice-Richard Arena and will
end, after a 2 km 15-degree climb on Chemin du Roy Road, in front of Louis
Garneau’s factory in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures. This finish promises to be a
spectacular one. In the past, this race was won by the best performers on
the flat and sprinters. This year however, with the steep hill at the end,
the best climbers will have the advantage. A surprising finish is expected!

Cyclists from across Canada and the United States will participate in
the 54th edition of the longest amateur bike race in North America.