2006 Montreal World Cup and Tour announced

The ninth edition of the only Women's Cycling World Cup in America will be held on Mount Royal in Montreal on May 27, 2006, as organisers have also announced the fifth edition of the Tour du Grand Montréal, scheduled from May 29-June 1. The Montreal World Cup on the famous Mont Royal in the heart of the city is now nearly two km longer, stretching to Parc Jeanne-Mance and Avenue du Parc. According to Daniel Manibal, president, "the new course allows the public to view the race from different vantage points. Although the Mount Royal lookout and summit remain choice spots from which to watch the event, Parc Jeanne-Mance and Avenue du Parc will be great for seeing cyclists flash by in this flat section of the race."

The Tour du Grand Montréal two days after the event, divided into four stages, will see its prologue in Lachine modified by 3.8 km, now 9 km in all, thus transforming it into a true time trial. The second stage, a 118 km road race, will take place on a hilly course in Rigaud, and the third stage, a 50 km criterium race mixed with intermediary sprints and public prize money giveaways, will see the riders take on Little Italy. The fourth and final stage, a five-lap run totalling 115 km, is at the peak of Mont-Saint-Hilaire on Chemin de la Montagne. The field coming to Quebec for the Tour du Gand Montréal will be very international.

"This year, we worked hard to find teams of different geographical origins to be able to offer spectators a diversified pack," Manibal explained. "Our efforts paid off. We have already received confirmation from Cuba’s national team and the new UCI team from Hong Kong, Giant Cycling Team, whose athletes are excellent sprinters, in addition to teams from Germany, New Zealand and Italy, who boast formidable climbers."

Prior to the World Cup race, a cyclosportive called Le Challenge du Mont-Royal will be open to experienced cyclists, and after the Tour has ended, on June 3, the "cyclo du Tour à Rigaud" will take cycling tourists to the Tour du Grand Montréal’s crucial stage. In collaboration with their respective school boards, over 400 students of the elementary and secondary level will also have a chance to take part in leisure rides on sections of the pro courses in the Lachine, Rigaud and Mont-Saint-Hilaire stages.