11.24.11 - 2012 IMMUNITY-FX CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUÉBEC

City of Lac-Mégantic to host Canada’s top domestic cycling event from June 21-July 1, 2012

(November 25, 2011 – Ottawa, ON) The 2012 IMMUNITY-FX Canadian Road Championships will be back in Lac-Mégantic, located in the Eastern Townships in the province of Quebec, after a 20 year absence, announced the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) after successful negotiations with the Tour de Beauce and the city of Lac-Mégantic.

In addition to grant the 2012 edition, the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Championships will be held in St-Georges-de-Beauce, QC, and organized by the same organizing committee.

The CCA initiated the process to seek a new organizer for the event after Midweek Cycling Club withdrew their interest to host the event for a second year. The Corporation du Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce led by Francis Rancourt stepped up to the plate and to organize this top domestic road cycling event.

“The organization of the Tour de Beauce is very pleased to partner with an organizing committee centered around the President and Director of the 1992 edition, Mr. Denis Bolduc, and Mr. Steve Rover, the 1996 Canadian Road Champion, who are both active members of the local business community in Lac-Mégantic. I am thrilled to see these individuals willing to get involved in the hosting of the 2012 IMMUNITY-FX Canadian Road Championships,” said Francis Rancourt, head of the organizing committee. “Thanks to the unwavering support the city of Lac-Mégantic and its neighbouring communities as well as the generous contributions from partners and hundreds of volunteers, the athletes will benefit from challenging courses and the whole region will benefit from the economic and media impact associated with the event.”

“The organizing committee led by M. Rancourt is one of Canada’s best. They have a proven track record in hosting major road races, and will provide a great platform for challenging performances from the athletes racing at this top domestic event. The Canadian Championships offer great visibility for Canadian cyclists, for the sport of cycling and for the region hosting the event,” said Mathieu Boucher, Director of Development at the CCA.

Added Boucher: “We are pleased to create a foundation of continuity and consistency in our relationships with event organizers by working with the same core group for the next three years. This group have been leaders in the development of a younger generation of athletes. They host events that give aspiring cyclists the opportunity to compete which is an important aspect of our long term athlete development model.”

The event will be held from June 21 to July 1, 2012 in the city of Lac-Mégantic in the Eastern Townships. Over 500 of Canada’s best competitive cyclists are expected gather in the region and race for the top prize – the coveted Red and White Maple Leaf Jersey in the traditional mass-start road race, the gruelling individual time trial race and the exciting Criterium race for the Elite, U23, Junior and Masters racers, as well as Para-cycling.

More details will follow in the spring.

2012 IMMUNITY-FX CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The IMMUNITY-FX Canadian Road Championships is Canada’s top domestic road cycling event. The event annually attracts some of the country’s best road cyclists challenging for the Red and White Jersey awarded to the Canadian Champions in the mass start road race, the individual time trial race as well as the Criterium. Organized by the Corporation du Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce in St-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec, the event is governed by the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA), a member of the International Cycling Union (UCI). The event is made possible thanks to the close collaboration between the Canadian Cycling Association, the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC) and the organizing committee. The 2012 IMMUNITY-FX Canadian Road Championships will be held from June 21 to July 1 and showcases racing in all categories: Junior, U23, Elite and Masters, as well as para-cycling.

ABOUT THE CORPORATION DU GRAND PRIX CYCLISTE DE BEAUCE

With the Rocky Mountain Cyclosportive, the Tour de Beauce, Quebec’s Road Cycling Championships and Classique Montréal-Québec to its credit, the Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce Corporation is proud to add the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Road Nationals to its program. The corporation’s goal is to organize high calibre cycling events in order to promote health through sport while positioning cycling as a major tourist development asset for the Beauce region.