By: Normand Gosselin

A cyclist is in the Junior category for only two years. We note that the national teams comprise mainly  2nd and last year juniors. What is the future?

The Tour de la relève, which was run on Saturday, July 20, very directly projected the answer: 185 young people took part, running in five categories for boys and as many for girls. As for the Tour de l’Abitibi, the answer is clear: 55 riders in the U17 category fought for victory. It is mainly among this group that we find those who will start the 55th edition of the Tour, in Val-d’Or, in 2025. Few riders in this group were from outside Abitibi. By the way, three teams came from Ontario: two from Toronto and one from Ottawa.

Among the U17 girls, 47 participated in the Tour de la Relève. These are the ones who should start one day if the Tour de l’Abitibi presents a women’s competition. Girls outnumbered boys in the Tour de la relève: 103 vs 82.

Antoine St-Jean, Project Manager of the Tour de la relève, was delighted to see that this Tour had attracted the largest number of competitors in its history. All categories, U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17 have been able to please those who we will see in UCI racing in the future.

Among the major points retained by Antoine St-Jean, there was citizen mobilization, with a remarkable participation of an enthusiastic public, encouraging young people despite poor weather – it would have felt like October instead of July looking at the thermometer.

The two photos were taken at the corner of 7th Street and Boulevard des Pins, near the administrative center of the Tour. Police officer Marie-Pier Bellavance had to deal with motorists who were generally very collaborative, but sometimes had a little difficulty in making her instructions understood; but she has all the patience to finally get the instructions of the moment respected.

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