March 7, 2005 – The Grand Prix cyclist of Beauce (GPCB), founded in 1986 by Beauceron cycling enthusiasts, will mark its 20th anniversary this 14th through 19th of June, 2005. To commemorate this long tradition of cycling in Beauce, the board of directors of the GPCB has designated a special volunteer committee with the mandate of preparing an activity program with two broad objectives:

– to promote a sporting event of international prestige and caliber and the subsequent rise of professional cycling in Quebec and Canada; – to recognize the dilligent and tenacious work of the founders, administrators, volunteers, and silent partners.

In addition, the GPCB has partnered with the Federation des Caisses Populaires Desjardins. As an official partner in the celebration of the 20th GPCB, Desjardins wishes to emphasize the popular and sporting successes of this competition as well as the constant efforts of its organizers. The participation of Desjardins allows the committee of the 20th race to present, with the people of Beauce, a program of festivities under the title: “20 years of cycling in Beauce, let’s celebrate together! ”

Other partners in the preparation of the activity program for the 20th race, include the Beauce-Etchemin School Board, Cégep de Beauce-Appalaches, the Carrefour Saint-Georges, the Éclaireur-progrès, and the Office of tourism and congress of Beauce. Each of these partners have contributed their various skills and facilities to one or more of the following activities :

1. Publicity and exhibition. A sequence of 8 weekly articles (April 1st to May 20th) and a supplementary pamphlet (May 27th), appearing in Éclaireur-progrès, will describe the various components- historical, human, and logistic in addition to the techniques of a regional cycle race in the process of becoming international. From June 1st through the 20th, a thematic exhibition illustrating the evolution of the GPCB by the means of posters, T-shirts, photographs, trophies and children’s drawings will be displayed in the new building of the Caisse Populaire de Saint-Georges (blvd. Lacroix) and in the Carrefour Saint-Georges.

2. Appreciation Dinner. The Desjardins evening and appreciation dinner will occur Saturday June 18th, from 6 :30 to 11 :00 PM, at the cafeteria of Cégep de Beauce-Appalaches. This celebration will bring together the approximately 400 volunteers and sponsors of the race. After a spaghetti supper, various people who contributed to the development of the GPCB will be recognized and a musical show will be presented by artists of Beauce.

3. Youth Race. A youth race entitled « contre-la-montre Desjardins » will be held on Sunday June 19th, between 9 :00 and 10 :15 AM. The race will consist of a 430 meter course on 1st Avenue between the Arena and the Hôtel des Gouverneurs. This sprint race, for participants of age 10 to 18 years, will be divided into three classes: 3rd cycle of primary (5th and 6th grade), secondary I and II and secondary III, IV, V. The Beauce-Etchemin School Board and the physical education teachers will collaborate in the recruitment and preparation of these young athletes.

The 20th anniversary committee of the GPCB, which has been preparing this program for a year, wishes to thank the official partner, Desjardins, and the many local collaborators. They also encourage the continued support of the people of Beauce for this prestigious athletic event, especially demonstrated by high attendance at the starts and the finishes of the various steps of this important cycle race, now called Tour of Beauce (from June 14th to 19th); “20 years of cycling in Beauce, let’s celebrate together! “