Le tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski

The winners of the regional awards of the Grands Prix du tourisme québécois were announced Thursday, April 4, at a gala organized by Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent at Parc du Mont-Saint-Mathieu. The Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski received the award in the category: “Festivals and Tourism Events – Operating budget under $300,000”.

At this award presentation recognizing the innovations and efforts made by regional businesses over the past year, the Tour de la relève distinguished itself through the international visibility and economic benefits it brings to the Rimouski region. The president of the board of the Tour de la relève internationale de Rimouski, Étienne Harvey, was delighted with the good news. “I’m very proud that the Tour de la relève has won this award. It’s a wonderful acknowledgement from the tourism industry, and a very pleasant reward for the members of the board and the organizing committee and for all the dedicated volunteers who work so hard to set up and run this cycling event of international standing,” he said.

The addition of the Grand Prix de Rimouski to last year’s event certainly helped win the award, according to race director, Michel Fugère. He points out, “The International Cyclist Union sanction is the highest level of international recognition that can be given to a women’s race in this category. There are only six races at this level in the world: three in Europe, one in Asia, one Oceania, and the only one in the Americas is here in Rimouski!”

Like all the winners for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, the Tour de la relève internationale now has a chance of becoming a finalist and winning an award at the national gala of the Grands Prix du tourisme québécois, to be held May 14 at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.