March 25, 2011 – Following our earlier report that Quebec City is no longer in the running to host the 2015 UCI World Road Championships we contacted Serge Arsenault to find out more about this sudden turn of events, the Canadian WorldTours in Quebec City and Montreal, and the proposed 2012 race in Boston – read our earlier report here.

Arsenault told Pedal that the decision to withdraw Quebec City’s 2015 Road Worlds bid was ‘a unanimous decision’ between him and all of the event partners. “This is not bad news for the country. I feel quite good about the decision. To have continued on that path would have been nonsense at the end of the road,” he explained. Arsenault also revealed that he is no longer promoting the WorldTour race in Boston, MA.

“I agree completely and this was not motivated by government austerity measures. It was a choice based on what we are developing,” he continued. Arsenault, together with the federal government, the Quebec government, municipal governments in Montreal and in Quebec City, the CCA, the FQSC, and private partners are developing a six-day period of festivities about bicycling.

While the ‘pièce de résistance’ remains the two WorldTour races, there will also be many peripheral events: sprints for upcoming Canadian cycling talent; mass cycling events; children being encouraged to ride bikes to school; gastronomy; and music. In Quebec City, much of this might take place on the Plains of Abraham, but Arsenault did not specify a venue for Montreal.

“It was the same decision with regard to Boston; I cannot be in two places at one time,” continued Arsenault with reference to dropping preparations for a WorldTour race in Boston. “Pat McQuaid (UCI President) originally asked me to look at organizing something there. But McQuaid was quite pleased with our decision [to drop the 2015 Worlds and Boston 2012] when I telephoned him.”

Arsenault also mentioned that World Championships do not necessarily produce lasting effects in the cities where they are hosted and that recurrent events are more effective.

“I wish Richmond, VA and Oman the best of luck with their bids. Perhaps people there need the World Championships to develop bicycling,“ he added, while noting that this is not the case in Quebec. Arsenault also conceded that his team might now possibly do something to ‘reinforce’ one of the remaining Worlds bids.