Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski
The Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski features some of the best cadet (15 and 16) riders in the world.
Set in the beautiful – no, let’s make that spectacular – Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski is a chance for some of the best cadet (15 and 16) riders in the world to live like their Tour de France idols for four days. During those four days, 40 teams and 142 riders compete over some of the most challenging terrain you can find around Rimouski, a town of just over 42,000, during the six stages.
Today’s challenging 68 km stage ended with an impressive win by a 15-year-old Texan, Daniel Parks, who is racing for Chipotle Junior Development. It’s hard to say what was more impressive – the fact that Parks managed to get to the line almost a minute ahead of Olivier Miclette from Velo Club Longeuil, or the fact that he and his seven teammates (Chipotle has two teams competing here) spent 45 hours in a van driving from Texas to compete here in Rimouski this week.
Video: An interview with Daniel Parks after he wins stage 1
With a 13 percent grade hill just 1 km into the stage, it didn’t take long for things to break up this morning. That climb quickly sorted the race into four distinct groups. Despite a few early breaks, it was a move heading up to the second of two mountain points sprints that saw four riders (including Parks and one of his teammates) get clear. In the end, Parks was able to ride clear of the rest of the group (Chipotle’s team tactics were hands down the best here today) and grab the yellow jersey in style. Possibly every bit as satisfying to the well-spoken young Texan was the fact that Chipotle is solidly in the lead in the lead in the team competition, too.
The race here in Rimouski also has a junior girls race, which was won today by Montreal’s Tennessee Mayer, who is racing for Team Canada “A” this weekend. It’s hard to say what is going to make Mayer more popular with the media in the coming years – her impressive riding or her ability to provide a 30 second sound bite that is positive, thoughtful and without cliché’s – all in English after doing almost exactly the same in French just minutes before.
Tennessee Mayer speaks after winning Stage 1
Another America, Sarah Huang from NOVA Sports Foundation, took the Cadet women’s race. The races here in Rimouski go off in one big start, which means the girls who can hang with the guys are guaranteed a good result. Today only Mayer and her teammate Gabrielle Fortin-Pilote were able to stay with the main peloton of cadet men. Huang was just outkicked to the line by third-place junior Elise Brouillette, but was able to get clear of the rest of the cadet girls in the pack, including Lea Audet from Club Acidose and fellow NOVA teammate Corrie Osborne.
The second stage also took place today – a team time trial along the St. Lawrence in the evening hours. Leading the way – surprise, surprise – was Chipotle once again, who finished the 6 km effort in 8:54, ten seconds ahead of their second team. Team Canada A took the women’s junior title in 9:57, followed by Team Canada B just six seconds later. Club Acidose took the cadet girls title, finishing third overall, just 12 seconds behind Team Canada.
We’ll be back with more coverage of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski tomorrow and will post a link to results once they are available online.
