November 27, 2006 – The sleepy suburb of Chateauguay, on the south side of the St. Lawrence River from Montreal, could soon be the scene of a world-class cycling race. The itinerary of the new, UCI-sanctioned Montreal-Boston race scheduled for August 5-12, 2007, is expected to include Chateauguay as one of four stages in Quebec. Another four stages will bring the peloton across Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Mayor Sergio Pavone announced Tuesday that he is in discussions with race organizers, adding: “This will attract lots of people from everywhere. It is an opportunity to gain international publicity. This is very interesting.”

Vermont tourism commissioner, Bruce Hyde, told the Boston Globe that the Montréal-Boston race is”¦”going to be big with national and international coverage.” Top caliber teams are expected from Canada, the USA, South America, and Europe.

When race organizer, Daniel Manibal, went to meet UCI president Pat McQuaid in Switzerland, trying to obtain approval for his Montreal-Boston race, he was accompanied by Quebec Education, Leisure and Sports Minister, Jean-Marc Fournier. Speaking of Fournier’s presence in Switzerland, Manibal previously told Pedal “Without (him), we wouldn’t have pulled this off!”

Fournier, who represents Chateauguay in the provincial parliament, apparently wants the race to go through his riding.