“It was a warm but very wet ride for the 22,000 cycling enthusiasts who showed up for this year’s Tour de l’Île, an annual mass cycling event that sees 50 kilometres of [Montreal’s] roadways closed to motorized traffic to make way for those on two wheels,” writes Michelle Lalonde in Monday’s (6/3) Montreal Gazette (Canada). “Joëlle Sévigny, executive director of events for Vélo Québec, said the wet weather probably deterred about 4,000 of the 25,000 who signed up for Sunday’s ride, and many of those who did brave the rain opted for the 25-kilometre shortcut, rather than the 50-km, 65-km or 100-km route…. Several local celebrities took part in the vent, including Montreal Symphony Orchestra conductor and music director Kent Nagano, MNA Chantal Rouleau, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and a contingent of municipal politicians. The rain was pretty constant from about 10:30 a.m. on, and then finally let up around 2:30 p.m., which allowed entertainment and activities at the finish line at Jeanne-Mance Park to go ahead a few hours later than planned…. the mood Sunday afternoon in Jeanne-Mance Park, when the rain finally let up, was buoyant.”
Posted June 7, 2019
