Monday, January 2, 2012

2011; a year in review

Monday, January 02, 2012  Pasquale Stalteri  16 comments


 2011; A Year in Review          Photo © Pasquale Stalteri Photography  / All Rights Reserved

Quebec is often described as the "Mecca" of road racing in North America given the hundreds of FQSC events each year including the prestigious UCI WorldTour events, Tour d’Abitibi, GP Cycliste Gatineau -Women’s UCI Road Race and World Cup Paralympics, etc…

Miroir du Cyclisme recaps the top stories of the 2011 Quebec road racing season


2011: A YEAR IN REVIEW



Dec. 3, 2010:   
David Veilleux formerly of Kelly Benefits strategies-Medifast signs with French-based Europcar for 2011

April 10, 2011:   
UCI Paris Roubaisx Cycling Classic/ Compiègne - Roubaix, France
Johan Van Summeren (Garmin-Cervélo) wins the race with Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) in 2nd and Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank) in 3rd. David Veilleux (Europcar) finishes 25th

May 21, 2011:   
UCI GP Cycliste Gatineau / Gatineau, Quebec 
Italy's Georgia Bronzini (FCL) wins in 2:38:45 on the 103km circuit as top Canadian Joelle Numainville (TIB) finishes 2nd with the same time. Leah Kirchman (Can) is 4th, Veronique Labonté (JS)  is 6th, Karol-Anne Canuel (Fut) is 7th, Clara Hughes (Can) is 8th, Denise Ramsden (JS) is 11th, Lex Albrecht (JS) is 13th and Heather Sprenger (FCL) is 17th

June 14-19, 2011: 
Tour de Beauce / St. Georges de Beauce, Quebec
Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa), (Realcyclist.Com ) wins the overall classification with Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex), (Amore & Vita-Mcdonald's) in 2nd and Svein Tuft (Can), (Spidertech) in 3rd. Brett Tivers (Nzl), (Garneau-Club Chaussures) is 7th, Dominique Rollin (Can), (FDJ) is 13th, Arnaud Papillon (Can), (Garneau-Club Chaussures) is 19th,  21. Antoine Duchesne (Can), 34. Andrew Pinfold (Can), UnitedHealthcare, 37. David Boily (Can), (Spidertech), 41. Bruno Langlois (Can), (Spidertech), 43. Benjamin Martel (Can), (Team Spirit) 45. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can), (Rocky Mountain)

June 23, 2011: 
Canadian Elite Men's ITT Championship / Belfountain, Ontario
Svein Tuft (SpiderTech) wins the championship followed by Christian Meiher (U-H) in 2nd  and David Veilleux (Europcar) in 3rd

June 23, 2011: 
U23 Canadian Elite Men's ITT Championship / Belfountain, Ontario
Hugo Houle (SpiderTech) wins the championship followed by Remi Pelletier-Roy (Quebec Team)

June 23, 2011: 
Canadian Elite Women's ITT Championship / Belfountain, Ontario
Clara Hughes (Quebec Team) wins the canadian ITT Championship

June 24, 2011:   
Canadian Elite Women's Road Championships / Milton, Ontario   
Veronique Fortin, (P-K Express) wins the Canadian road championship with Lex Albrecht (JS) in 2nd and Erinne Willock (TIBCO) in 3rd. Joelle Numainville (TIB) is 5th, Karol-Ann Canuel (V-F)is 6th, and Clara Hughes (Quebec Team) is 10th.

June 25, 2011:   
Canadian Elite Men's Road Championships / Milton, Ontario
Svein Tuft (SpiderTech) wins the championship, followed by team mates Will Routley and Zach Bell.Bruno Langlois (SpiderTech) is 9th, Francois Parisien (SpiderTech is 10th, David Veilleux is 14th.
Note: Hugo Houle (SpiderTech) and Arnaud Papillon (Quebec team) finish 5th and 6th respectively among the elite men but more importantly place 1st and 2nd respectively in the U23 category below.

June 25, 2011:   
U23 Canadian Elite Men's Road Championships / Milton, Ontario
Hugo Houle (SpiderTech) wins the championship followed by Arnaud Papillon (Quebec team) in 2nd.

June 26, 2011:   
Canadian Elite Men's Criterium Championships / Georgetown, Ontario
David Veilleux (Europcar) wins the Canadian Criterium Championship as Keven Lacombe (SpiderTech) crashes and suffers a triple fracture to his jaw, losing several teeth in the process.

June 26, 2011:   
Canadian Elite Women's Criterium Championships / Georgetown, Ontario
Leah Kirchmann (Team Manitoba) wins the championship followed by Joelle Numainville (TIB) in 2nd and Lex Albrecht (JS) in 4th.

July 09, 2011:   
Paracycling World Cup / Baie-Comeau, Quebec
Marie-Ève Croteau dominates the T2-3 category as  Rico Morneau finishes fourth in the H2 race.

July 19-24, 2011:   
UCI Tour de l'Abitibi  / Abitibi, Quebec
James Oram and Dion Smith of NZ dominate the 7 stage race finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in the overall classification. Emile Jean is the top Canadian with a 7th place finish.

July 31, 2011:   
Elite Men's Quebec Criterium Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Miguel Agreda (Garneau-Club Chaussures) wins the championship followed by Jordan Brochu (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins) in 2nd place and Rémi Pelletier- Roy (Garneau-Club Chaussures) in 3rd

July 31, 2011: 
Elite Women's Quebec Criterium Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Elisabeth Albert (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins) wins the championship followed by Veronique Drapeau- Zgoralski (Juvederm-Specialized) in 2nd and Caroline Brunet (Garneau-Club Chaussures) in 3rd

July 31, 2011: 
Junior Men's Quebec Criterium Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Felix Cote Bouvette (Prud' Homme- IGA) wins the championship followed by Lambert Gatineau (Spidertech p/p par Power Watts) in 2nd and Emile Jean (Spidertech p/p Power Watts)  in 3rd

July 31, 2011: 
Junior Women's Quebec Criterium Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Audrey Bernard (Spidertech p/p Power Watts) wins the championship followed by Tennessee Mayer (Espoirs Quilicot) in 2nd and Janie Rioux- Coulombe (Atrium - CC2R) in 3rd

August 14, 2011:   
Classique Montreal—Quebec / St-Augustin, Quebec  
Brett Tivers (Garneau) wins the classic in a time of 6:08:59 and an average speed of 39.5Km/hr. followed by Derrick St-John (Ride With Rendall) in 2nd and Benjamin Martel (Team Spirit) in 3rd.

August 16, 2011: 
Les Mardis Cyclistes / Lachine, Quebec  
Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello – Cycles Régis) wins his 4th Mardis Cyclistes Coupe Pro Elite championship

August 27, 2011:   
Elite Men's Quebec ITT Championship / Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides  
Rémi  Pelletier- Roy (Garneau) wins the mens ITT championship followed by Cedric Boily (Gervais Rioux) in 2nd and Charly Vives ( SpiderTech) in 3rd. Clara Hughes (Indépendant) finishes 6th in the elite men's category.

August 27, 2011:   
Elite Women's Quebec ITT Championship / Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides 
Veronique Labonte (Juvederm-Specialized) wins the élite women's title followed by Veronique Fortin (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins) in 2nd  and Annick Dufour (Stevens Racing) in 3rd.

August 27, 2011:   
Junior Men's Quebec ITT Championship / Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides 
Yohan Patry (Rocky Mountain Desjardins) wins the championship as Emile Jean (Spidertech p/b Powerwatts) settles for 2nd place followed by Olivier Brisebois (Équipe du Québec) in 3rd and Charles Matte (Nippour/Devinci) in 4th

August 28, 2011:   
Elite Men's Quebec Road Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Antoine Matteau (Gaspésien /Passion Vélo) wins the Quebec championship followed by Francois Chabot (Gaspésien /Passion Vélo) in 2nd and Jordan Brochu (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins) in 3rd

August 28, 2011:   
Elite Women's Quebec Road Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Veronique Fortin (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins) wins the Quebec championship followed by Joanie Caron (Juvederm-Specialized) in 2nd and Lex Albrecht (Juvederm-Specialized) in 3rd.

August 28, 2011:   
Junior Men's Quebec Road Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Charles Matte (Nippour/DEVINCI) wins the Quebec championship followed by Emile Jean (Spidertech p/b Powerwatts) in 2nd and Simon- Pierre Maltais (Nippour/DEVINCI) in 3rd

August 28, 2011:  
Junior Women's Quebec Road Championship / Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Josiane Boily (Atrium - CC2R) wins the championship followed by Gabrielle Pilote- Fortin (Dedacciai/HYPE-ski vélo) in 2nd and Alizee Brien (Spidertech p/b Powerwatts) in 3rd.

September 8--11, 2011: 
UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships / Roskilde, Denmark
Gold for Robbi Weldon/Lyne Bessette in the tandem TT; Shelley Gautier in the T1 TT; Marie-Ève Croteau in the T2 TT; Gautier in the T1 RR; and Croteau in the T2 RR. Marie-Claude Molnar wins silver in the C4 road race while Mark Ledo wins bronze in the H3 road race. Molnar also wins bronze in the C4 TT helping Canada finish as the top nation in the women's ranking at these Championships, all categories combined. Canada also finishes  with an all-time high 5 World titles.

Sept. 8, 2011:   
UCI Challenge Sprint Canada / Quebec City 
Remi Pellitier-Roy (Garneau-Club Chaussures) wins the Canada Sprint Challenge followed by Ben Chaddock (Team Exergy) in 2nd, Francois Chabot (Gaspesien/Passion Velo) in 3rd and Pierre-Etienne Bovin (Team Spirit Gth Cannondale) in 4th

Sept. 9, 2011:   
UCI Quebec City WorldTour GP / Quebec, Quebec
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) wins the Quebec City GP as top Canadians are: Michael Barry (Sky) in 16th spot, Dominique Rollin (FdJ) in 20th, David Veilleux (Europcar) in 22nd, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo) in 27th, Svein Tuft  (SpiderTech) in 39th, and Ryan Roth (SpiderTech) in 40th

September 11, 2011:  
UCI Montreal WorldTour GP / Montreal, Quebec
Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) (Movistar) wins the Montreal GP stopping the clock at 5:20:18  after 205km. Top Canadians are Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo) 11th, followed by David Veilleux (Europcar) in 22nd, Michael Barry (Sky) in 54th, Francois Parisien (SpiderTech) in 62nd, Svein Tuft (SpiderTech) in 66th, and Ryan Roth (SpiderTech) in 108th

September 11, 2011:   
Tour de l’Avenir / Alba, France.     
David Boily (Can) finishes 2nd overall behind Johan Esteban Chaves (Col), wearing the yellow jersey for three stages. Hugo Houle finishes 56th while Antoine Duchesne  is 80th

September 21, 2011: 
Elite Men's ITT World Road Championships / Copenhagen, Denmark
Tony Martin of Germany wins the world championship ahead of Bradley Wiggins of Britain in 2nd and Fabian Cancellera of Switzerland in 3rd. Svein Tuft (Canada) places 13th.

September 21, 2011: 
Elite Women's ITT World Road Championships / Copenhagen, Denmark
Judith Arndt (Germany) wins the world championship ahead of Linda Melanie Villumsen (New Zealand) in 2nd and Emma Pooley (Great Britain) in 3rd. Tara Whitten (Canada) is 4th, Clara Hughes (Canada) is 5th, Rhae-Christie Shaw (Canada) is 7th

September 24, 2011:  
Elite Women's World Road Championships / Copenhagen, Denmark
Top Quebec and Canadian hopeful Clara Hughes gambles on a breakaway attempt that goes awry , then crashes and eventually places 103rd. Italy’s Giorgia Bronzini wins the race while Joelle Numainville takes top Canadian honors in 12th, Leah Kirchmann is 17th. Erinne Willock finishes 33rd , Rhae-Christie Shaw is 36th, Denise Ramsden 55th, and Tara Whitten  87th

September 25,  2011: 
Elite Men's World Road Championships / Copenhagen, Denmark
Britain’s Mark Cavendish wins while David Veilleux places an impressive 16th, Svein Tuft finished 139th and Michael Barry DNF

October 9-15, 2011:   
Masters World Track Championships / Manchester England
Stephane Le Beau (Canada) (Jean Coutu Jean CIBC WoodGundy) wins gold in the Individual Pursuit, Scratch and Points Race

October 19, 2011:  
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport / Ottawa, Ontario
The CCES announces that cyclist, Arnaud Papillon (Garneau-Club Chaussures), will recieve a two-year sanction for the use of erythropoietin (EPO) during the Canadian Road Championships

October 21, 2011: 
Press release form Miguel Agreda / Quebec, Quebec
Miguel Agreda (Garneau-Club Chaussures) reveals being suspended by the CCES (Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports) for testing positive and admits to using prohibited substances

October 28, 2011: 
Panamerican Games / Guadalajara, Mexico:
Joelle Numainville places 6th in the Elite Women's Road Race
Guillaume Boivin places 11th in the Elite Men's Road Race

November 19, 2011: 
Parapan-American Games  / Guadalajara, Mexico.
Robbi Weldon (B) and Lyne Bessette (P) pickup four gold medals bringing Canada's total medal count to 13


_________________________________________


Due to limited resources and time restraints,we may have unwillingly omitted certain details which you may feel are noteworthy. If so, please contact us and we will be glad to make any necessary adjustments.


Pasquale Stalteri




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16 comments:

Québec "Mecca" of road racing in North America ?

If such is the reality poor cycling world!

1. Potholes galore
2. Ineffective federation
3. Less and less race organizers
4. Less teams
5. One large team with doping within : Garneau Club Chaussures
6. Provincial championships mired with dopers and yes Benjamin Martel was also found to be doped.
7. Provincial championships had no more than 40 riders yet 3 so far found doped
8. Miserable federation - race organizations interaction
9. Lack of funding for both provincial and federal team selections
10. Louis Garneau's pathetic publicity campaign with FQSC president after doping in his team. Really? you didn't know? Please
11. FQSC President never elected or reelected. I call the FQSC Barbouristan - His immediate family employed by the very same Federation.
12. Tens of events forced to be federated or else riders participating would be banned from federated events ipso facto. ( Just ask the XC ultimate event )
13. After Team Spidertech became Continental Pro - no more local talents may find their due sponsoring
14. After doping scandals; Tino Rossi (a doping advocate) is to be sponsored by pharmacy giant.
15. Finally, a beam of hope in your new journalism venture Pasquale. Kudos...

Cheers

Humm...you're right!
Surprised to know that the doper Benjamin Martel was not found guilty...or that it's not in media. Few guys heard that the fqsc was tired of those doping stories and tried to hide it from the media.

Thank you but I sense some frustration concerning the FQSC and I'm not sure that blaming the federation for everything under the sun is the appropriate course of action.

For instance, the FQSC cannot manage pot holes on roads. This is a municipal matter which needs to be brought to the attention of the local MNA. And the fact that there are less organizers, less teams and less rider participation and less money is out of the federation's control.

Although no scenario is ever perfect, I do believe that Quebec is the "Mecca" of cycling in North America. But If you believe that changes need to be made then please offer viable solutions and let's start a meaningful dialogue.

The problem with our community is that we tend to be apathetic and lack involvement in matters which shape our future. We only complain once we are faced with the consequences. We watched as they tore down the best velodrome in the world instead of getting involved and today not much has changed.

If cycling is to prosper and thrive once again in Quebec as it did some decades ago when it was even more popular than hockey, believe it or not, then we need to get involved and create a united front and stand up for issues and make things happen!

Very few things just happen on their own.

I would love to organize a race in Montreal... As a proposed solution as you incur. Yet, when I tried, I was shortcircuited by the FQSC... Fees + red tape + non sense arbitration so Pasquale yes, some might demonize the federation a bit much though they still are a monopoly and as such they are to blame for many problems.

As the above comment states - Barboursitan _ is the best moquery I've heard.

I believe that all the provincial federations follow the same strict guidelines set by the UCI.

I must admit that I know very little about the FQSC's protocol concerning event organization. But playing devils advocate, then why are there so many more events organized here in Quebec than in any other province?

Further to what Pasquale wrote, I feel compelled to speak up for the FQSC. Looking at the UCI WorldTour 2012 calendar, it is remarkable that the only 2 North American events take place here in Quebec: (GP Cycliste de Québec & the GP Cycliste de Montréal). With the elite men’s road races, the only Canadian entries are in Quebec: (the Coupe des nations Ville Saguenay & The Tour de Beauce). The elite women’s road race calendar similarly shows half of the North American events and the only 2 in Canada taking place in Quebec: (Chrono Gatineau and the Grand Prix cycliste de Gatineau). It’s the same picture with paracycling and with mountain biking. All this shows that the FQSC is certainly doing something right. This being said, we would love to hear about specific things that the FQSC could be doing better...

That's why the FQSC wants to hide another doper who tested positive for cortisone.
We must admit that they work hard. But to try to hide another doping story...because they had a few in november...I don't agree. This is unfair to the other riders. Instead of going away for 2 years and saying to the people that he is going away from the sport for motocross competition, he and his former doper team manager should come out clean and admit what they did.

I think Benjamin Martel requested a B sample. This is why it hasn't been news thus far.

Quebec has far more events than other provinces... true... As a fact many organizers have set an enormous job here. The FQSC rules the events they do not organize events.
Tour de Beauce + Arsenault (Both Pro Tour races) + nationals (same people than Tour de Beauce) are the ones to salute in their amazing work.

The FQSC is ruled by Sport Québec who tops all of Québec's sport federations. UCI plays a minor role as it is the CCA Canadian Cycling Association who oversees the good UCI rules implementation in Canada.

Between CCA and FQSC and Sport Québec a few say there's a lot of Red Tape. To others each federation protects better each province's local cyclists.

The FQSC has a lot of detractors amongst the race organizers. In Quebec no event may freely request a participation fee. Fees are limited by the FQSC. Once an event is not federated, the FQSC sabotages the event by requesting all federated members not to attend or to be "excommunicated" from federated races. Hence, if a private organisation would like to produce an event and rules it out as an event within UCI rules in Quebec it will always be a non profit event. What event may make money with fees limited to 30$ when you must pay security + local police + cities + FQSC personnel?

This is why there's less and less races. Many have organized races out of passion. Few of this are left (Jean-Yves LAbonté being amongst the best examples). Yet some others would like to organize events for profit (XC Ultimate Race) The FQSC has stepped in meddling into all matters.

Security is a big concern. A few years ago events didn't pay for local police. Now they do. The FQSC hasn't been able to provide a lobby for this practice to be overturned. Yet it isn't their fault but it increases to the races' costs.

What is is truly complex to understand is that there's a federation who's role is to work for the cycling community. However many feel left out of the advantages of being federated. Read the race organizers. Without a full calendar there's no job for the FQSC ... How may they have such huge differences then?
This last year we saw a reduction of wonderful local races (Coupe Brisson to name just one) In 2012 many others won't come back.
To state that Quebec is a cycling Mecca is a bit preposterous.

Thank you for the detailed response and you raise many good points. But I again feel compelled to come to the defence of the FQSC.
Yes, race organizers like Serge Arsenault and the Tour de Beauce people deserve high praise for all the good work they do here in La Belle Province. But I submit that it would be difficult or impossible for them to do this good work without support from the FQSC. The FQSC probably did much behind the scenes to facilitate Serge Arsenault obtaining the license for his WorldTour races. The fact that FQSC director Louis Barbeau is also the President of the UCI Paracycling Commission can't hurt Quebec’s chances when applying for major events licenses.
Nor can I imagine the UCI according those licenses unless that organization had a good opinion of the local federations in Quebec and in Canada. Please remember that these are the only two UCI WorldTour events in North America and there are only two others held outside of Europe (Australia & China). This is big stuff and that in itself probably justifies the claim that Quebec is the North American Mecca of road cycling!
Regarding the “less and less races,” my understanding is that the FQSC regularly oversees about 400 cycling events per year, which is a big number and it seems fairly constant. True we’ve seen some local events like the Brisson Cup close down, but I also understand that this is nothing new and there were many events organized since the 1970s (i.e. Little Italy crits, West Island time trials, Montreal Womens World Cup) that are no longer held. The Mardis Cyclistes crit series, for example, is exceptional in that it is going into its 35th season in 2012.
It is very easy to be critical of others and we should keep this in mind regarding the role played by the local federation. I also wonder if you can provide an example of somewhere else in North America where things work better than they do here in Quebec? This being said, I am also tempted to forward some of your specific complaints to the FQSC for their response.

Tellement facile de ce débarrasser de quelqu'un en le testant à la trace positif!!! et le sortir de la compétition parce qu'il commence à prendre de l'âge et qu'il performe trop bien, réveillez-vous !!!!!

B. Martel est positif et donc malhonnête comme les autres qui ont aussi testés +++

Les gens passent des commentaires sans savoir la vérité... voilà les Québécois. Il est facile de juger, mais je crois qu'il faut tenir compte des circonstances et de s'informer à la personne même. Beaucoup de jalousie dans le monde des sports, regardez-vous avant d'impliquer des paroles déplacer et désobligeantes envers les autres. Attention, la prochaine fois ce sera peut-être vous !!!

Very sad but now I understand why Martels picture is there

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