In just a few days' time, from August 4 to 10, the 25th edition of the Grand Tour Desjardins will get underway on the roads of the Bas-Saint-Laurent, as eighteen hundred cyclists make their way through one of Quebec's most beautiful cycling destinations. For some, it will be a challenge, a first or an nth participation that has become an unmissable happening. For others, it'll be a trip, a vacation with friends, a chance to catch up with cycling buddies, a week of pure bliss!
No matter how you look at the Grand Tour Desjardins, this crazy dream of taking nearly 2,000 people on bike trips for a week has really put road biking and bike touring on the agenda of Quebecers. It was no easy feat when we launched the event in 1994.. In fact, almost half of the cyclists had ridden the first edition on a mountain bike! Since then, we've come a long way, and road biking has become more widespread, allowing people to discover the pleasure of taking on a sporting challenge while discovering little-known regions and landscapes. The Grand Tour Desjardins has been a spark plug to other destinations, to other adventures on two wheels, right here at home or on other continents.
The benefits generated by bicycle touring in Quebec are well documented: we're talking about 700 M$ injected annually into local and regional economies. In the regions we visited, Grand Tour Desjardins is recognized as a real catalyst in the growth of bicycle travel. Over the years, it has enabled a number of regions, both here and abroad, including Ontario, to position themselves as «official bicycle tourism destinations». This has given rise to initiatives that showcase local products, for example, to a clientele that loves these little treats. It has also motivated regional players to develop offers that will make avid tourers want to come back!
In 25 years, with the Grand Tour Desjardins and also the Route verte, the face of Quebec as a cycling destination has been forged to the delight of everyone, whether they live here or come from abroad in search of adventure.
On that note, happy cycling!
Suzanne Lareau
President and General Manager
