October 23, 2007 (Alliston, ON) – The Board of Directors of Tour du Canada has established the schedule and other details for TdC08, which will begin with a full-day orientation session on June 21, 2008.

In conjunction with setting the schedule, the Board is pleased to announce the creation of a bursary program to mark the 20th anniversary of the first Tour du Canada ride in 1988. The bursary is designed to encourage participation by young cyclists in the cross-country ride from Vancouver to St. John’s.

The bursary would provide up to $1,000 to each qualified participant, and perhaps more in special circumstances. Cycle Canada, the organizer for the Tour du Canada ride, will contribute $1,000 to start the program and Tour du Canada members will be asked to participate in helping young people see the country in the best possible way – from the saddle of a bicycle.

Here is a summary of key details about TdC08:

– We will take up to 28 riders in one group, starting with an orientation in Vancouver on June 21, 2008, a Saturday. With sufficient demand, we would schedule a second group of 24 riders with an orientation on June 22, 2008, a Sunday.
– All riders reach Signal Hill in St. John’s on August 30, 2008, the Saturday of the Labour Day weekend. There will be an awards ceremony at a late-morning brunch on August 31.
– A deposit of $600 will reserve a space on TdC08 and the total fee is $3,985. A portion of that fee is subject to Canadian goods and services tax.

A Tour du Canada ride is a shared experience that will allow you to see Canada at a human scale and meet people from all of its regions. The route is one that samples the flavour of the country in travelling through the different rural regions, through many small communities and some big cities.

While the ride has always started in Vancouver, we offer an optional trip to Vancouver Island so that riders can go to the Mile 0 marker in Victoria.

For more information contact: Bud Jorgensen Tel. 705-434-1100 / 800-214-7798 or by e-mail at sweep@TourduCanada.com; www.TourduCanada.com

Tour du Canada, CycleCanada, CycleCanada.com and Discover Your Routes are registered trademarks of Cycle Canada, The Veloforce Corporation.