UCI racing returns to Gatineau in 2011
Organizers have finalized the lineup of events for the second annual Gatineau Grand Prix this spring.
Organizers have finalized the lineup of events for the second annual Gatineau Grand Prix this spring.
Racing will kick off Friday, May 19, with a women’s UCI time trial along Boul. des Alumettieres in Gatineau — a five-minute drive from Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Instead of a men’s UCI time trial, organizers have opted to run a men’s provincial-level road race Saturday morning on the same 12-km course that is used by the women’s UCI road race later the same day.
According to organizing committee member John Large, the HTC, TIBCO, Colavita, Australia and Hitec Norway women’s teams all hope to return, and there is interest from France, the Ukraine and Germany. That means 2010 road race winner Joelle Numainville — who switched teams from Webcor to TIBCO over the winter — is likely to be back to defend her title.
Clara Hughes also currently has the event on her program, though her participation remains to be confirmed.
To spice things up, there will also be a running race on the road course earlier Saturday.
The final event of the weekend is a 96-km Gran Fondo-type event. The 48-km loop uses the road course as well as the Gatineau Park parkway. Organizers are working on extending road closures for a 144-km option, but have not yet received confirmation.
