Montreal, Sunday, May 26, 2024 - The Go vélo Montréal Festival, presented by Lait in collaboration with Desjardins, kicks off today with the Défi métropolitain, offering a full week of cycling and urban activities for everyone. Over the next few days, Montreal will vibrate to the rhythm of bicycles at several popular gatherings such as Tour la Nuit (Friday, May 31) and Tour de l’Île de Montréal (Sunday, June 2). Festival organizer Vélo Québec and proud spokesperson, actress and host Julie Ringuette, invite Quebecers to get on their bikes for a week of 100 % cycling. Registration for events is still open: www.velo.qc.ca/govelomtl
« Montreal is definitely a cycling city. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Tour la Nuite and the Tour de l'Île. It's a pleasure to see, year after year, thousands of cyclists storming the streets of the metropolis. I'm convinced that the event will be a great success again in 2024. These unique moments, when bicycles are king, allow Montrealers to get moving, while seeing their city in a different light. For some, Tour la Nuit and the Tour de l'Île are an opportunity to discover the pleasures of cycling in the city. To encourage the population to choose active mobility, but also to ensure better road sharing and promote the ecological transition, our administration will continue to invest in safe, quality infrastructure, which is much appreciated, as demonstrated by the popularity of the Réseau express vélo, notably »said the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante.
Metropolitan Challenge, Sunday, May 26
Terrebonne prepares to welcome the participants of the 22e edition of the Défi métropolitain, the first major cyclosportive gathering of the season. This event, aimed at road cyclists, offers a choice of 60, 85, 97 and 163 km routes. Participants ride at their own pace, with no stress, no stopwatch, and unrivalled supervision. Each year, the event is an opportunity to discover a new part of the greater metropolitan area.
International conference, Thursday, May 30 - The cargo bike: vehicle of the future
The Festival is proud to welcome Marie-Astrid Leray, founder of Le Vélo à Gaufres and co-president of the Boîtes à Vélo France, as guest speaker. On this occasion, she will discuss the potential of the cargo bike as a promising and versatile alternative to motorized transport, offering an efficient solution for the mobility of people and goods, and bicycle entrepreneurship. The cargo bike is undoubtedly the most effective tool for reducing the nuisances associated with thermal vehicles (GHG emissions, air and noise pollution, accidents, congestion and costs associated with transport and delivery), and thus contributing to the improvement of our living environments.
- 6 p.m., Esplanade Tranquille: 1442 Clark Street, Montreal (also available in virtual format, via Zoom)
- Free admission | Conference in French | Reservation required
Le 25e anniversary of Tour la Nuit, Friday May 31
The event kicks off at 8 p.m. in Parc Jean-Mance. A 24 km, car-free route through the streets of the South-West, where participants can discover downtown by night, before skirting the Lachine Canal. And this year, the party starts before the start! Cyclists are invited to the start site from 6 p.m., where they'll find street food trucks, a festive terrace and a ton of entertainment.
« On June 4, 1999, the first Tour la Nuit saw the light of day, also marking the creation of the Féria du vélo de Montréal, now the Festival Go vélo Montréal. At the time, Vélo Québec wanted to create a link between the Tour des Enfants - a cycling experience for 6-12 year-olds that took place a week before the Tour de l'Île - and Tour de l’Île de Montréal, by establishing an entire week of celebration dedicated to cycling. It is with great pride that we celebrate this year's 25e edition of Tour la Nuit. Twenty-five years of lighting up the streets of Montreal by bike during this great night-time classic under the stars is an achievement of which we are particularly proud. »underlines Jean-François Rheault, President and CEO, Vélo Québec.
Tour de l’Île de Montréal, Sunday June 2
The Tour de l’Île de Montréal is the great cycling classic of the year in the metropolis. Once again this year, there are two route options:
- Course regularThe start will be at 9:15 a.m. at Parc Jeanne-Mance, heading southwest, on a car-free circuit. In addition to the classic 50 km route, a shorter 28 km version will be available..
- Course discoveryStarting at 7 a.m., cyclists on the Discovery Route will set off from Parc Jeanne-Mance. Two choices of distance - 68 and 96km - on marked routes open to motorized traffic, except for the last 24km, which will be done in the company of thousands of other participants on the regular route.
Animation at Tour la Nuit and Tour de l’Île de Montréal
Participants will enjoy entertainment all along the routes, as well as at the start and finish of the events. At Parc Jeanne-Mance, cyclists will be welcomed to a festive site with games and rides,) a varied food offer (foodtrucks and terrace), live performances (DJ, band, acrobatic show) - including special appearances by Super plage, Bermuda and Samajam - a souvenir store, and much more.
Vélo Québec encourages young people and their parents to get moving as a family
At Tour la Nuit and Tour de l'Île, it's always FREE for 12 and under, and only 10 $ for 13-17 year-olds.
« Since the very first edition of Tour de l’Île de Montréal, Milk has been working closely with Vélo Québec to promote cycling and encourage healthy lifestyle habits. The Producteurs de lait du Québec (PLQ) are happy to give back to their communities, in particular by contributing to this Festival, which offers a great opportunity for cyclists of all ages and levels to participate at their own pace, with family, friends or solo, in rallying routes and healthy activities. »underlines Daniel Gobeil, president of PLQ.
« The Montreal Go Bike Festival is the best urban biking weekend of the summer, and Desjardins is proud to help cyclists of all ages take to the streets of Montreal. We believe there's no better celebration than this one to promote this active and sustainable mode of transportation! »declared Isabelle Garon, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Communications, Cooperation and Office of the President, Desjardins Group.
REGISTRATIONS :
www.velo.qc.ca/fgvm | 514 521-8356 or 1 800 567-8356, ext. 504.
On-site registration will also be possible.
