December 21, 2006 – Former Tour de l’Abitibi GM Claude Pagé received a Lifetime Achievement Award on December 20, at the Gala Sports-Québec, held in Laval, QC.

Pagé was awarded the Jacques-Beauchamp Tribute for his contribution in making the Tour de l’Abitibi one of the world’s major junior cycling events. For more than a quarter of a century, Pagé made alliances and faced adversity every year to end up presenting a top-notch competition.

“Ti-Bras”

A Phys. Ed. teacher at first, Claude Pagé took the reigns of the Tour de l’Abitibi in the late 70s. At the time, the Tour was gaining prestige and popularity, with some international teams in the field. But it wasn’t enough for the man nicknamed “Ti-Bras” (short arms). He is a stout, short man, with short but strong forearms, combined with a very stubborn attitude, who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

The whole package, in fact, made for one of the best people to sell an event like Le Tour de l’Abitibi on all continents. Over the years, international teams did not come only from Europe and the USA, but from such countries as Japan, Uganda and Argentina. All because of Pagé’s relentless efforts to draw to a remote part of North America, the crème de la crème of junior cycling.

Jalabert, Julich, Bauer”¦

Speaking of crème de la crème, some past and present cycling stars owe Pagé some of their fame. Laurent Jalabert used to say that he learned how to sprint at the Tour de l’Abitibi. Some of the best cyclists, present and past, were on hand in the Abitibi stage race at one point in their career. Stars like Jalabert, Bobby Julich, Denis Menshov and Steve Bauer gained valuable cycling experience in Northwestern Quebec, because of Pagé’s vision.

As part of his major accomplishments, he was also instrumental in making Le Tour de l’Abitibi the only American stop on the Junior World Cup, in 1993. That helped him reach his goal of having riders from all continents at the starting line. During his 26-year tenure, Le Tour was a well-oiled machine, sponsor-wise and event-wise. He was also well-advised in politics, as he had to deal with all the international Federations, but also with local organizing committees in the cities that hosted the event over the years. He retired in 2005, after a political scuffle with Val-d’Or Mayor Fernand Trahan. Still, Pagé made sure the event was in good hands before he left.

The Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him on December 20th celebrated the varied talents and skills of Claude Pagé. But it also celebrated the quiet force that all Abitibians have within themselves, to make the improbable happen.