June 2, 2010 (Lachine, QC) – Some 40 people turned out for a press conference and lunch to mark the 33rd season of the Mardis Cyclistes series of crit races presented by Saputo. Marc-Wayne Addison served as the master of ceremonies, noting that June 9 will see the 321st stage race around LaSalle Park in Lachine. Addison, who is director of operations for the series, mentioned that race founder, Tino Rossi, “promises lots of surprises this season!” [ 2009 saw a visit by Floyd Landis].

Addison then introduced Rossi, who spoke about, “a 33-year love affair with the race series.” Rossi, 70, was in form excitedly talking about the $5,000 prize offered to anyone who breaks the time record of 58 minutes and 52 seconds on the 50km senior men’s Saputo race. “And if nobody breaks the record this year, the prize just gets bigger next year!” Some $20,000 will be offered in prizes this year for all the different age and gender categories.

Mayor Claude Dauphin told the crowd that most people had no idea how hard Rossi worked on the race series. He spoke about visiting Rossi one winter in Florida a few years ago. The two had supper together and then Rossi’s telephone started ringing. “Tino spent all evening on the phone organizing a race more than six months away.”

FQSC director Louis Barbeau mentioned that he was surprised to hear that Rossi had added a seventh jersey (for the winner of the intermediate sprints and sponsored by Nativo Concept) to those offered at the Mardis series. “I think that we’re going to run out of colours soon,” joked Barbeau. He also mentioned that, while the Tour de l’Abitibi is the patriarch of annual Quebec cycling events at 42 years, no other single race organizer has been on the job for 33 years like Rossi. Barbeau also spoke about defending champion Martin Gilbert (SpiderTech p/b Planet Energy) who will be vying for his fifth title this year. “While Martin’s schedule might oblige him to miss some of the stages, his heart will be here in Lachine.”

Claude Pinard of title sponsor, Saputo, gave a lively speech and mentioned that Barbeau had made a pilgrimage last year to see him, asking for funding. “But we never give pilgrims very much the first year they come to see us,” he explained while Barbeau laughed. Pinard also spoke about reviving the 2009 Bixi stage race for celebrities and journalists, but then jokingly accused Gilbert of elbowing him during that race. Barbeau then promised to follow along on his motorbike and make sure that everybody rode clean.

For the first time in its 33 year history, the honorary president of the event is now a woman, Monique Depatie of Molson Coors Canada. Depatie spoke about how the brewery is very linked to sports and to healthy lifestyles. O’Keefe was one of the earliest sponsors for the Mardis Cyclistes and Molson Coors is continuing in that tradition.