Tour of the Island of Montreal: 19,000 cyclists take the metropolis by storm
The kick-off of the Tour de l’le de Montréal has been given shortly before 10 a.m. at Parc La Fontaine.
The traditional Tour of the Island of Montreal takes place under a radiant sun in the streets of the metropolis. Some 19,000 cyclists are taking part this Sunday in this festive event organized by Vélo Québec.
As part of the Go bike Montreal Festival, “many cyclists came with their families to enjoy this sporting and friendly event,” said the president and CEO of Vélo Québec, Jean-François Rheault, on the starting line at the Parc La Fontaine, in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.
Hundreds of cyclists await the start of the Tour de l’Île de Montréal, at Parc La Fontaine.
For this 37th edition, cyclists have the pleasure, at their own pace, of discovering the western sector of the island through 7 boroughs, including Rosemont–La-Petite-Patrie, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame -de-Grâce and Verdun.
“The 36 km course is safe, without car traffic. […] We hope that this will make people want to travel more by bike in urban areas,” adds Mr. Rheault.
The Plateau in effervescence for this great bike party
The kick-off of the event at Parc La Fontaine – one of three possible departures for participants – took place shortly before 10 a.m. in a heated atmosphere.
Among the personalities present on the starting line: Émile Bilodeau, singer-songwriter and spokesperson for the Festival; Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region; Steven Guilbeault, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Luc Rabouin, Mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough.
A few minutes before the start, the atmosphere was festive in the presence of several personalities .
“I am proud to be the spokesperson for this 37th edition. I deeply love my mission to promote an ecological means of transport,” says Émile Bilodeau, who admits to loving taking his bike on his tours.
Émile Bilodeau, singer-songwriter and spokesperson for the Festival.
“This summer, with my team, we will cycle around Lac Saint-Jean. I want to show people that it is possible to do your part for the environment. [… ] Our beautiful community is setting an example for the rest of the world.”
Among the participants met – many families and groups – all said they were happy to take part in such an event. “safe” and “friendly” in “this beautiful city”.
Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, who “rides a bike 12 months a year since 1989” is also delighted to be present at the festivities.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault.
According to him, “Montréal has been transformed over the decades” to become “a North American model for the development of cycle paths”.
Motorists will have to be patient since many streets will be closed to traffic until 4 p.m. The list of closed routes is available on the Vélo Québec website.
