June 02, 2014 (Chicoutimi, QC) – The Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, in its first edition, will take place from June 5 to 8, 2014 in La Baie and Chicoutimi. The race part of the UCI America Tour features three urban circuit races and one evening criterium.

Despite being in its first year as a Grand Prix, the organizing committee presenting this event that welcomes 19 teams from seven countries is very experienced as it presented for the last six years the UCI Nations Cup U23.

The Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay will feature four stages, three urban circuits and one criterium. Citizens of the Saguenay region will have a prime opportunity to witness hands on all the action, and cheer on the peloton led by some of the biggest names in Canadian and North American cycling.

Thursday, the Grand Prix will take off with the presentation of the first stage in La Baie, 11 laps of the 15.1 km loop for a total distance of 166 km. The race should feature the best sprinters at the finish line.

The second stage, still in La Baie, will be much harder and give the chance at climbers to stand out, with impressive climbs, including a section with two kilometers between 8% and 10% grade. These areas are an excellent meeting point for fans to encourage cyclists along the route.

Racing then shifts to Chicoutimi on Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8. The third stage, a criterium presented in the evening starting at 6pm, will be contested over 74.2 km on a loop of 2.2 km. This short type of race is always impressive for the crowd of spectators, with continuous action from beginning to end.

The winner of this first edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay will be crowned during the fourth and final stage, a 149.8 km race on an urban circuit of 10.7 km.

In total, the peloton will travel 560.4 km during the four days of the inaugural Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay. An event not to be missed for all cycling fans.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay – Stages

1, Thursday June 5: La Baie, circuit urbain (166,1km) – Map
Stage 2, Thursday June 6: La Baie, circuit urbain (170,4km) – Map
Stage 3, Thursday June 7: Chicoutimi, Criterium en soirée (74,1km) – Map
Stage 4, Thursday June 8: Chicoutimi, circuit urbain (149,8km) – Map
Total distance : 560.4 km