Le Tour de l'Abitibi first took place in 1969. Throughout the years, the Tour has earned a solid reputation for the excellence of the organisation, as well as the festivities surrounding the event.
The Tour has become a promotional tool for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. It is still the only North American stage of the International Cycling Union Junior World Cup. 6th of 12 stages, the Tour de l'Abitibi is the most important, longest and most popular stage. For cyclists, the Tour is a preparing event for the World Championship, scheduled at the end of September. The success of the Tour gives it its world-wide notoriety and each edition brings the best junior riders in the world.
" A Tour de France for juniors" is what the cyclists and team technical directors compare the Tour de l'Abitibi to each year.
More than 30 countries have participated so far and many contacts have been made to attract more. Many international teams compete every year along with other clubs from the United-States and Canada, making it a peloton composed of approximately 25 teams.
This international presence ensures an important media coverage for the Tour de l'Abitibi.
As for the media, the Journal de Montréal, Velo Mag and Canadian Press have been regularly present. To that list, we add La Presse from time to time. Other media use free-lancers. It is the case for Pedal, Canadian Cyclist, Velo News (United-States), l'Équipe (France), as well as many specialized european magazines.
Three champions of the Tour de l'Abitibi, who have moved on to become world-class senior cyclists, Michaël Zanoli (Holland), Laurent Jalabert (France) and Alex Steïda (Canada), declared one day that Tour de l'Abitibi was " the biggest win of their career ". | 2009
The Tour de l'Abitibi and Nations'Cup are combined to present one single event. The Tour de l'Abitibi/Coupe des Nations, remains a unique international event that welcomes the best junior riders in the world and who also allows the nations' qualification to the UCI Road World Championships. This is the only competition of its kind to be presented outside Europe.
2008
The Tour de l'Abitibi presents it's 40th edition and also accepts the challenge of presenting one of the Junior Nations' Cup trial, newly established by UCI. The Junior Nations' Cup is a qualificative event for the UCI Road World Championship.
2003
The Tour's 35th anniversary.
2000
World premiere ; a start at 300 feet under-ground at a old mine, La Cité de l'Or, for a individual time trial.
2000
Canadian native Peter Mazur, cycling for a U.S. team, wins the Tour de l'Abitibi and becomes, a few week later, Junior World Cup and World Champion.
1999
Japan makes its first appearance, as well as South Africa. Every continent has now been represented at least once at the Tour.
1994
The Tour becomes the only North American stage of the Junior World Cup, also known as the I.C.U. Junior Challenge.
1993
First South American team : Argentina. 1991
Participation of 9 international teams, including New Zealand, the first country from Down Under.
1989
The Tour switches from a "diamond" formula, where the stages were run from city to city, to the "star" formula, with the starts and finishes from a central point. 1988
First participation of an eastern european country : Czecoslovakia. 1986
Junior world champion Michaël Zanoli (Holland) becomes the first title holder to take part in the Tour. 1983
The Tour organises animation, contests and musical shows under a tent. 1981
First European team ; with France's participation, the Tour becomes international. 1980
First participation of the United-States National Team. 1976
Five champions participate in the 8th edition, making it the "Super Junior American Championship ". In 1977, we count 10 champs. 1975
Consolidation of festivities surrounding the event. 1973
The first teams outside Quebec participate
(Ontario and United-States).
Host cities present the Tour alternately. 1969
Le Tour de l'Abitibi is born |
