Grand Tour de Vélo Québec | The wheel has been turning for 30 years

Today marks the start of the Grand Tour de Vélo Québec, with its eclectic procession of more than 1,000 cyclists, who will crisscross the roads of the Outaouais this year until August 8. This great communion combining discovery, conviviality and openness is blowing out its 30 candles, having brought in its wake all sorts of enthusiasts, from the most timid to the most hungry. Interview with Jean-François Rheault, CEO of Vélo Québec, who explains how this event has perfectly settled into the Quebec landscape.

The Press : Can you tell us about the founding of the first Grand Tour?

Jean-François Rheault: In 1985, the Tour de l’île was created in Montreal, and Vélo Québec wanted to create an event that would take cyclists on a journey beyond city tours, to give them confidence in their abilities and help them discover the territory of Quebec. The first Grand Tour was organized in 1994, over 8 days and 700 km, with more than 1,100 participants, going from Montreal to Joliette, then to Quebec City, going back down through Victoriaville to return to Montreal to inaugurate the Maison des cyclistes. At that time, bikes were not as technological, many rode 100-130 km per day with 10 speeds or even in jeans!

What is the spirit of the event?

It’s a celebration of cycling culture that’s open to the public and focused on discovery, since the Grand Tour has crossed 15 regions over the years. But it’s also about surpassing oneself. We’re in the middle of the Olympic Games right now, where athletes will run, swim, etc., as fast as they can. In our event, we push our own limits, whether it’s 20 km per day, 50, 100 or 300. It can be in terms of distance or elevation, but also in terms of the weather, which varies a lot. Everything is driven by the enthusiasm of the participants and volunteers. There are also two other factors: it’s still a great party, on the one hand, and we enjoy the pleasure of being together, on the other hand. Many friends meet up there every year, and several love stories have even started at the Grand Tour!

Who is the Grand Tour for?

To everyone who rides a bike, because today, we have a lot of diversity in the routes. Someone who has never traveled by bike will find themselves in a supervised, safe environment where everything is taken care of, but a cyclist capable of riding hundreds of kilometers will also find what they are looking for. There is no age limit, and I would say that the average is quite high, because many participants come back faithfully each year; so there are a lot of people in their sixties and seventies, or even older people, in exceptional shape. And we always have a few children who will ride with their parents.

What do you see for the Grand Tour in the next 30 years?

The future involves diversification, in several respects, such as routes and elevation changes. In the first edition, the standard was 100 to 135 km per day. Today, the minimum daily distance is 60 km, which allows for better accessibility, while those who want to ride 135 km can still do so. Then, the type of cycling practiced by Quebecers is evolving and diversifying. There is of course road cycling, but segments on bike paths are increasingly in demand. We are also integrating segments on gravel roads, which are very popular. Electrically assisted bicycles are increasingly popular, so we are planning for recharges and mechanical supervision. Finally, we are varying the related experiences, such as specialized or general public conferences – for example, we have a workshop on mushroom picking – as well as the types of accommodation: participants can camp, rent a tent, stay in a hotel. This year, we are developing ready-to-camp and offering a van option. In short, we want to improve the experiences so that the event appeals to as many people as possible and remains relevant in the face of changing reality.

Will there be any special activities to mark this thirtieth anniversary?

Michel Labrecque, former CEO of Vélo Québec, will come to talk about the creation of the Grand Tour. We will also have Jonathan B. Roy who will give a conference on bicycle travel, always in the spirit of discovery. Ann-Rika Martin, who won the show The Chiefs !, will take care of lunches, as part of an impressive catering logistics: nearly 18,000 meals will be cooked. For our teams and the caterers, it is also a sporting event!

First Grand Tour: Foglia tells all

Our most loyal readers will be able to take a look at the issue of The Press August 7, 1994. On the front page of the newspaper, the cycling columnist Pierre Foglia inaugurated a series of texts relating his experience during the very first Grand Tour, in words that still move the current organizers. Excerpt: “I admit my astonishment too. And my slight apprehension. I’m not more friendly than I should be, I didn’t know what to expect and I still don’t know. I only know that I’ve never ridden with a more diverse crowd than that one. There’s everything, speeders, granola, pannier-riders, strollers, everything. All that makes a world. And with that crowd I spent a delightful day. […] If you asked me what the Grand Tour was, I would tell you that it was exactly that: a great escape. A slightly crazy vacation taken by very wise people.