July 20, 2018 (Victoriaville, QC) – Pedal has learned that Quebec will host its first official provincial championships in fixie crit racing, confirmed by Louis Barbeau, Director General of Québec’s Cycling Federation (FQSC). The brakeless bike races, one for men and another for women, will take place during the provincial Criterium Championships in Victoriaville, on August 4.
Two years later, FQSC came up with a brand new set of rules for fixies. “These rules were designed to be as accessible as possible in order to stimulate participation,” said Marilou Fauteux, who supervised this integration for the federation. “As an example, a rider who already owns a road licence does not have to purchase a second one specific to fixies. Also, if someone is lapped during a fixie criterium, he or she can stay in the race instead of getting a DNF,” she explained.
Alexis Pinard, the Québec Criterium championships organizer who also puts on the Appalachian Classic, was asked by FQSC to hold fixie championships in mid-May. “We gladly accepted, even though it is uncharted territories for us,” he admitted. “The fixed gear riders will race on the same one kilometre or so loop as the road cyclists, in downtown Victoriaville. “There are no hairpin bends and one little hill on the course. I think it will be a good show.”
Other fixed gear criterium racing events can be found on the FQSC calendar this season. One took place during the Crossroads Tremblant, at the end of May; the next one is scheduled for July 29, during the Critérium du centre-ville de Bromont.
There are several experienced fixie riders in Québec. One of them is Raphaële Lemieux (Specialized Rocket Espresso), who won the women’s Redhook Crit Brooklyn, NY on April 28. Others are Josh Gieni (Team iBike), owner of two cycling shops in Montreal and Cowansville, and Addison Zawada (Team iBike), an American rider who recently received his permanent residency in Canada.
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