INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS - DAY 1 - SATURDAY AUGUST 3
From Plantagenet to Gatineau
For the grand start of the Grand Tour 2024 presented by Lait au chocolat, we've got a great day in store for you to enjoy the calm of the south shore of the Ottawa River, which you'll follow from Plantagenet to Gatineau. Fill up your water bottles, oil your chains and eat a good breakfast, because today, we're rolling!
To help you prepare for your departure, here's what you need to know:
- Start site: École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet (6150 Comté Rd #17, Plantagenet, Ontario, K0B 1L0).
- Parking : A $20 fee is charged for parking, payable in cash only upon arrival at the site.
- If you're missing wristbands, or have received faulty ones, drop by the INFO booth before you set off and we'll rectify the situation.
- Sleeping with a CPAP machine? A shuttle will be available on request from 2 p.m. to take you to the school where you'll be staying, which is about 1 km from Gatineau village.
- The village of Gatineau is one of a kind! It's a completely self-contained site on the banks of the Ottawa River. That also means we're not sheltered from the elements, so make sure you have warmer clothes and a raincoat!
- Do you have any questions? Come and see us at the Info booth before you set off.
Headlines
Our partners' activities
Vélo Québec is proud to count Lait au chocolat as a presenting partner of the Grand Tour. Enjoy a good chocolate milk to help you recover after the effort when you arrive at the Village.
- Take advantage of theEscape Café truck at the start between 6:30 and 10 a.m. for a good cup of coffee, or in the village during the afternoon. Don't forget your reusable mug!
- Come and try out several outdoor games (spikeball, badminton, arrow bow and Finnish bowling) supplied by Décathlon!
- The Décathlon boutique will also be on hand to offer a wide range of sporting goods.
- Décathlon will also be offering a workshop on the mechanical maintenance of your bike. See you at 4:00 pm at the Décathlon booth.
- Come and store for your next pair of cycling glasses at the Eye-Am truck, located in the village and open all afternoon.
- Buy Vélo Québec merchandise at our Village Boutique between 12:00 and 21:00.
- Come and enjoy a good beer from Siboire, the official beer of the Grand Tour, between 3 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at the village bistro.
- At the finish line, enjoy a well-deserved chocolate milk, courtesy of Le Lait.
- If you have any questions, unforeseen circumstances or last-minute changes, come and see us at the Vélo Québec INFO booth. The INFO booth at the start line in Plantagenet will be open from 6:30 am to 10:00 am. The one in the village, in Gatineau, is open from 12:00 to 21:00.
For emergencies, please contact us at 514 292-8356 or [email protected].
Day by day cycling itinerary
On the road
See the day's routes on Google Maps
View today's topographic profiles (PDF)
Regular route, 71 km
Meet at the meeting point - École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet (6150 Comté Rd #17, Plantagenet, ON K0B 1L0).
For your first day on the roads of the Outaouais, discover the banks of the Ottawa River, which will accompany you from start to finish!
See the route on Ride with GPS
Shortcut, 60 km
Looking for a gentle start? Shave 11 kilometers off your day by taking the free 60 km shuttle. Drop by the Info booth before 9 a.m. this morning to register. The shuttle will drop you off directly on the course, 11 kilometers further on.
Gravel course, 71 km
Want to get away from it all, in the heart of nature? Opt for today's gravel trail! Almost the entire way, you'll be riding the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail, a multi-purpose gravel path that crosses southern Ontario from the Quebec border to Ottawa on old railroad tracks. A cycling path to discover!
Optional route 1, + 35 km
Feel like adding a few kilometers to your day? This first optional tour of the Grand Tour will allow you to extend your stay in Ontario by taking in some of the local farmland.
See the route on Ride with GPS
Gravito stop 1 - km 26
Fill up on fresh water and enjoy an energy-boosting snack to round out your day at the day's stop-ravito, Alain Potvin Park (1245 Docteur Corbeil Blvd, Rockland, ON K4K 1P6).
Lunch stop - km 41
On this first day of the Grand Tour, you'll have dinner at the Baitun Nasser Mosque, located in Cumberland (2620 Market St, Cumberland, ON K4C 1A3).
Enjoy the cheese of the day, courtesy of Fromages d'ici: Feta with Oregano (Fromagerie Saputo).
The lunch stop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Optional route 2, + 21 km
Lunch break given you extra energy? Continue your ride in the Ontario countryside with this second optional route, which takes you along the pretty, bucolic roads of Cumberland.
See the route on Ride with GPS
Gravito stop 2, km 65
Take one last break in Ottawa before celebrating the end of your cycling day in the village of Gatineau!
In the village
Once you've arrived at the Village in the beautiful city of Gatineau, you'll find all kinds of activities on offer. Whether you're looking to unwind, have a drink or take your mind off things, we've got you covered!
Tonight in the village, you can :
- Take a shower at Festidouches between 2 pm and 8 pm. Take advantage of the Pure products available.
- Enjoy a massage therapy session between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (lunch stop) and between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. (village):
- Rates :
Drop-in (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.): $20 for 10 minutes, $25 for 15 minutes and $30 for 20 minutes (taxes included).
Village (2 pm - 10 pm): $55 for 30 minutes, $100 for 55 minutes (taxes included). Reserve your session by stopping by the massage therapy booth at the start before you hit the road! You can also reserve your massage therapy session in advance by texting Djilali Aïcha at(514) 991-1822 with your choice of time slot. You'll receive a prompt reply confirming your appointment or suggesting an alternative time slot. Don't wait to book your next session!
- Rates :
- Enjoy the many games provided by Décathlon from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Enjoy the many board games offered by SOCIOJEUX between 3 pm and 9 pm.
- At 5 p.m., attend the live recording of the podcast The encyclicalspodcast, hosted by Jonathan B. Roy and Benoit Simard, who will offer their advice to Grand Tour cyclists who want to make their bikes more comfortable and faster.
- Watch a film at the village cinema. Daily schedule :
- 3:00 p.m. - Chappie (2 h)
- 5:30 p.m. - La marche (1 h 40) - age 13 +
- 19 h 30 - The follies of Dick and Jane (1h30)
- 9:00 pm - Lucy (1 h 29) - 13 ans +
- Relaxing yoga from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. (yoga mat not provided)
- Take a dip in the Centre sportif de Gatineau pool between 10:30 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. (admission: $10 for adults and $5 for children under 5 and over 65).
- Have a drink (or two, or three... ) at the bistro between 3 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
- Vibrate to the sounds of the DJ from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m.
- Take advantage of the village's exceptional location to watch the Casino du Lac-Leamy fireworks at sunset.
Your daily menu
