July 10, 2019 (Victoriaville, QC) – Less than 72 hours before the kickoff of the Quebec Criterium Championships playing out for a second consecutive year in Victoriaville, the Appalachian Classic proceeded with an announcement of what, in terms of scope and scale, will become the largest amateur cycling event ever organized in Canada. In partnership with the city of Victoriaville, the RCM of Arthabaska, Cycling Canada, and l’Union Cycliste Internationale, the Organization will host the World Series Gran Fondo UCI and Masters Canadian Championships.
Preliminary program details to date are as follows:
– July 2: UCI World Series and Canadian Masters – Individual Time Trial
– July 3: Canadian Masters – Road Race
– July 4: UCI World Series – Gran Fondo
– July 5: Canadian Masters – Criterium
Courses and program details will be announced in September, with registration also opening in September for the July 2020 event. In the meantime, the Organization announced that all participants enrolled for the 2019 Appalachian Classic will receive a 20% discount on their registration for the 2020 World Series event.
“Reaching such an important milestone in so little time spontaneously calls for a word to my mind: thank you. Thanks to our volunteers, who have always given their time and energy, with so much generosity and enthusiasm. Thanks to our participants, who have always followed us in our sometimes crazy ideas. Thanks to our economic, touristic and political partners for their vision and commitment. Thanks to the Quebec cycling federation, to Cycling Canada and to the UCI for believing in our potential. Thanks to the many and charming municipalities of the Arthabaska RMC for trusting us. And, more importantly, thanks to the population of Victoriaville and its region for welcoming us, with such kindness and openness, each and every year”, said Alexis Pinard, cofounder and president of the Appalachian Classic.
“Hosting a prestigious event such as the UCI Gran Fondo World Series brings international salience to Victoriaville as a cycling destination. The Appalachian Classic, having been awarded multiple awards over the years, puts a lot of efforts behind the quality of their events, which is also a key factor to our appeal as a region. And the icing on the cake is definitely watching two former elite participants, Hugo Houle and Mike Woods, currently competing at the Tour de France,” said Victoriaville mayor, André Bellavance.
“Cycling is an appeal product on which we’ve greatly focused our strategy for economic development and tourism, and an event like the UCI World Series Gran Fondo will bring exceptional benefits. Through the achievements of the Appalachian Classic, we’ve see the proven abilities of this organization in the promotion of our region as well as development of major cycling events. Having personally been part of the Classic since it began, I am able to see first-hand the exceptional quality, both of its Board of Directors and of its many supporting volunteers. I welcome this announcement and I wish all a very long life to this high profile event,” said Alain St-Pierre, Mayor of St. Albert, and prefect of the RCM of Arthabaska.
The UCI World Series Gran Fondo races, approved by the UCI and played all over the world, have featured since 2011.
Composed of 30 qualifying events in 2019-2020, the UCI World Series will culminate its calendar with the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, open to the top 20% of participants in the qualifying events.
The advancement of high-level competition for both master and amateur cyclists, along with promotion of “Cycling for all,” are the global objectives of this series. All races on the calendar of the UCI World Series must meet strict criteria, both at the sport organizational level and that of tourist interest.
“The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are becoming more and more popular and qualifying opportunities were few and far between in North America’s northeast, a fact of which the UCI was quite aware. Quebec is the most active province in Canada in terms of both organizations and international caliber cycling, with the Appalachian Classic having earned and carved out a prominent place among popular calendar events over its short history. The geographic location in the center of Quebec, roads both safe and spectacular, the success of past years, the know-how and support of municipal and local authorities, the many volunteers and hospitality of its residents… all elements combined to make it an obvious choice,” said Pierre Hutsebaut, Continental Counsellor – UCI America Tour, for l’Union Cycliste Internationale.
The Appalachian Classic, it should be noted, was awarded the rights to host the UCI World Series Gran Fondo for a period of three years, from 2020 to 2022.
The Canadian Masters Championships are cycling’s premier event for riders 30 and over. Held for a several years in British Colombia, these Championships will be heading back east, meaning less travel and logistical issues for good numbers of competitive cyclists, especially good news for riders from Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, those making up the majority of the Canadian peloton. Note that the Classic was also awarded organization of the Masters National Championships event for a period of two years, being 2020 and 2021.
Mathieu Boucher, Head of Development and Operations at Cycling Canada said, “We are very pleased to work with the team of the Appalachian Classic, both for their organization of the Canadian Road Championships (Masters) and their introduction to our members of all that Victoriaville and its region can offer. The combination of the Canadian Championships and the UCI World Series Gran Fondo will make this event a must for all riders across the country, and we believe that it is a concept that cyclists will really enjoy.”
“With these two events combined, we mark a major point in the history of Canadian cycling. But more importantly, we will put Victoriaville and its region front-and-center like never before, both as the heart and soul of our success, and as a truly exceptional region with a most kind and hospitable people,” concluded Mr. Pinard.
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