The new version of the Grand Défi Pierre-Lavoie, which launched in La Baie, will now launch in Quebec in June 2024 – a major blow for the district of the city of Saguenay.
• Also read: GDPL: Pierre Lavoie is already thinking about the future
The route is 1000 kilometers long and leads every day back to the Laval University site, where modern tents are set up.
“It’s sad for La Baie,” complained Caroline Ramsey of Magasin Général, a few dozen meters from the cruise dock from which cyclists set off every year. “It’s really fun to see them all competing together.”
Even though the show portion was eliminated due to the exit a few years ago, dealers in the industry are already expecting a decline in traffic and revenue.
“It’s a manna we lose, [nous] Restaurateurs,” added Marie-Ève Dallaire from the Opia restaurant.
“In recent years it has had a little less impact,” explained Bianca Girard of O’Gelato and Cacao. “When there were shows, like Marie-Mai, for example, that was an event in itself. For several years now, the Grand Défi has been running at less popular times.”
Pierre Lavoie announced last June that the format of the Grand Défi would change. The deployment of more than 200 recreational vehicles was no longer ecologically justifiable.
The organization developed the concept of a special region that would cover the majority of the course. Keeping the start in La Baie became impossible.
“We could have asked more experienced cyclists to cross the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and reach the featured region,” admitted the founder. However, if the star region is Outaouais, it is 650 kilometers from Saguenay.”
To ensure sufficient participation, the triathlete chose Quebec as the starting point. 75% of participants come from this sector, from the south coast of Quebec and Montérégie.
“We wanted to centralize,” explained Pierre Lavoie. If we can maintain the “wow” factor, cyclists will continue to participate.”
Rimouski, Trois-Rivières and Outaouais could in turn host the 1000 km race. And yes, the city of Saguenay too.
“It is written in heaven that we will return,” he promised. With four days instead of two, with the Energy Cubes, plus the loop that we will take with us every year…”
If La Baie councilors are disappointed at having lost the equivalent of a national advertising campaign, they’d rather look forward.
“If Pierre Lavoie decides to return, he will be entitled to the same royal treatment,” assured the president of the La Baie district council, Raynald Simard.