June 12, 2007 (Montreal, QC) – Les Mardis Cyclistes Saputo races celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2007. This 10-stage series of criterium races sees many of Canada’s best male cyclists contesting a 31-lap, 50km course around LaSalle Park in the Montreal suburb of Lachine on Tuesday evenings each summer.

The Laits Go Coupe des Jeunes is a 24km race run the same evening, immediately preceding the pro elite race. The season begins this year on June 19 and the finale is August 21st. The initial race is thus strategically sandwiched between the Tour de Beauce (June 12-17) and the Coupe de la Paix (June 20-25), increasing the chances of international competitors joining the start line-up. Admittance is free to watch all races.

In 1978, Roger Chartrand won first the pro elite series, while Yannick Cojan holds the record with six championships. Charles Dionne (Colavita/Sutter Home) won the series in 2000 and since then, the MCS title has see-sawed between Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) and Sebastien Moquin (Sleeman Clear TATV) with Moquin standing at the top of the podium in 2006. Steve Bauer made an appearance in 2005, finishing 6th. Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) holds the fastest time at 59:57 (50.04 kmh).

The Laits Go Coupe des Jeunes (for cadets) began in 1988 when Steve Rover won the series. Other winners include Rollin in 1998, Maxime Vives (Calyon/Litespeed) in 2000, Charly Vives (Calyon/Litespeed) in 2001 and Simon Lambert-Lemay (who raced for Hot Tubes this February in the Bahamas) in 2005 and 2006. The fastest time of 32:26 (44.68 kmh) was set twice in 2005, once by Guillaume Boivin (EVA/Devinci) and again by Lambert-Lemay.

New this year is the 16km Hop and Go for minime girls and boys aged 12 to 14 beginning at 5:50 pm and the 24km Shape Cup for girls 16 and over that will start at 6:20 pm – the same time as the Laits Go series.

The event is sanctioned both by the FQSC and by the CCA. The races have been organized since the beginning by Joseph “Tino” Rossi, who is also the former owner of the Bicyclettes Rossi bike shop and former manager of Montreal’s Olympic Velodrome.

“I’ve dedicated my entire life to cycling,” says the Italian-born Rossi. He promises lots of animation this year – especially on June 19 and August 21st.

Saputo has been the main sponsor since 2002. Other sponsors include Molson, Desjardins, Shimano, Morin, and Argon18.

For more information visit www.lachine.com or call 514-637-7587.

Look for a full feature on Les Mardis Cyclistes Saputo’s 30the Anniversary in Pedal’s June 2007 issue.