January 13, 2012 (Quebec City, QC) – The 243km one-day road race known as the Classique Montréal-Québec Louis Garneau will not be held in 2012. The event is described by Wikipedia as the longest [in distance] and longest-running [in years] cycling event in North America. Pedal believes that 2012 would have been the 64th running of this event that finishes in front of the Louis Garneau Sports head office.

The FQSC confirmed that the fabled race will not be held this year, but points out that a shorter race will still be held from Trois-Rivières to Quebec City.

“It’s true to say that the Montréal-Québec race is cancelled in its original form this year,” explained Karine Boivin, Communications Coordinator for Louis Garneau Sports Inc. “The Tour de Beauce [organizers of the event] will continue to organise a race week-end on the same date on the calendar (August 11-12) but it will be from Trois-Rivières to Quebec City.”

“The reason [for this change] is the cost of the Montréal-Quebec race. During the same week-end, we organize the Grandfondo Garneau-Cascades and we will be able to do only one set up of the start and the finish. It will help the race organisation a lot and limit the cost. Louis Garneau is not saying that we will not do the Montréal-Québec race again in the future, but we will try this set up for this year.”

The 2011 edition was won by Brett Tivers (Nzl) Garneau-Club Chaussures-Norton Rose with a time of 6:08:59. He was followed by Canadians Derrick St-John (Ride with Rendall) in second and Benjamin Martel (Team Spirit G.T.H. Cannondale) in third. More results and photos HERE.at <http://www.fqsc.net/sites/default/files/rp-110814_0.pdf>www.fqsc.net/sites/default/files/rp-110814_0.pdf

Wikipedia (in French) HERE.