PARTICIPANT INFORMATION - DAY 2 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
Loops around Gatineau
On this beautiful Sunday, the day of the first loop of the Grand Tour, the day's various itineraries will highlight the banks of the Gatineau River, the focal point of this second day of cycling.
INFOS Tour d'un jour : Have you decided to come and ride with us this Sunday? Come early in the morning to the Village de Gatineau (Parc Jacques-Cartier - Rue Laurier, Gatineau, QC J8X 3W9). Parking will be available for your vehicles. Your bracelets, received by mail, give you access to all Grand Tour services for the day. You can then hit the road at your leisure.
Don't miss Wakefield's covered bridge! Right after your lunch break, you'll have the chance to drive over a lovely covered bridge built in 1915!
Whether at the lunch stop or in the village, enjoy a massage to lighten your legs during or after cycling. Book 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!
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.
At 5:00 p.m. in the bistro, don't miss the discussion between Michel Labrecque and Jean-François Rheault! The former and current CEOs of Vélo Québec will look back at the history of the Grand Tour, from its creation in 1995 to its 30th anniversary this year, as well as the event's importance in creating a cycling culture in Quebec.
After the lecture, head to the bistro to party with the group La boîte à chansons from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.!
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.
- When you return to the village, discover the surprise of the day, courtesy of Le Lait!
- Treat yourself to a hotEscape Café beverage before you hit the road between 6:30 and 10:00 a.m., or on your return between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Don't forget your reusable mug!
- Come and store for your next pair of cycling glasses at the Eye-Am truck in the village, open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Come and try out several outdoor games (spikeball, badminton, arrow bow and Finnish bowling) supplied by Décathlon between 11 am and 7 pm!
- The Décathlon boutique will also be on hand to offer a wide range of sporting goods from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Décathlon will also be offering a workshop on the mechanical maintenance of your bike. See you at 4:00 pm at the Décathlon booth.
- Buy Vélo Québec merchandise at our Village Boutique between 12:00 and 21:00.
- Learn more about the region's various tourist activities at the Tourisme Outaouais booth from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
- Stop by the bistro for a tasty beer from Siboire, the official beer of the Grand Tour.
- If you have any questions, unforeseen circumstances or last-minute changes, come and see us at the Vélo Québec INFO booth. The village INFO booth is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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, 83 km
Between Gatineau and Wakefield, the site of today's lunch stop, you'll follow the Gatineau River, the focus of today's itinerary, from near or far. Just outside Chelsea, you'll reach Chemin de la Rivière, where you'll enjoy superb views of the river all the way to Wakefield.
In the afternoon, we cross the Gatineau River and head back down to Gatineau on Cantley's pretty country roads. The final stretch promises to be particularly pretty, as you follow the Ottawa River along section #1 of the Route verte all the way to the village.
See the route on Ride with GPS
Short loop, 76 km
On this short loop, which cuts 7 km off your day, you'll find yourself back on the Gatineau River after passing through Cantley, instead of continuing east. You'll follow the river to its junction with the Ottawa River, before covering the last few kilometers of the day on Route verte section #1.
See the route on Ride with GPS
Gravel course, 83 km
Today's gravel route follows the regular route for most of the day, but offers you the chance to break away from the pack for a few gravel escapades during the day. In the afternoon, you can follow the Gatineau River at close quarters!
Optional route 1, + 26 km
Need to work up an appetite before dinner? Take the optional route when you arrive in Wakefield and discover the wilderness roads between Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham and Lascelles before reaching the lunch stop along another stretch of the Gatineau River.
See the route on Ride with GPS
Gravito stop 1 - km 26
Fill up your water bottles and enjoy a snack at the Cascades Club in Chelsea!
Lunch stop - km 35
Enjoy lunch at Centre Wakefield La Pêche before heading out for the afternoon.
Taste the cheese of the day, courtesy of Fromages d'ici: Fromage Louis d'Or (Fromagerie du Presbytère).
Want to extend your stop in Wakefield before continuing your day's cycling? Drop in to see the local attractions, including the Gendron Bridge, the Fairbairn House and the Wakefield Mill!
The lunch stop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gravito stop 2 - km 58
Take a short break to regain your strength on the grounds of Cantley's Centre Communautaire Multifonctionnel, before covering the remaining 25 km of your day.
Please note that sections of the route on bike paths are not accessible to our vehicles, especially support vehicles. Support staff will be on the bike paths to help cyclists requiring immediate assistance.
In the village
At Le Village in the beautiful city of Gatineau, you'll find a wide range of activities. Whether you're looking to unwind, have a drink or take your mind off things, we've got you covered!
Today in the village, you can :
- Shower at Festidouches between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 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). Book your session at the massage therapy kiosk in the Village before you hit the road! 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.
- Swim at the Centre sportif de Gatineau pool between 10:30 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. (adult access: $10 / access for 5 years and under and 65+: $5)
- Spend a relaxing moment in yoga from 9 a.m. and from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. (yoga mat not provided).
- Watch a film at the village cinema. Daily schedule :
- 3:00 pm - Aline (2:08)
- 5:30 pm - Seven lives (2:03)
- 7:30 p.m. - Jour de merde (1 h 31) - 13 ans + (shit day)
- 9:00 p.m. - O Brother (1 h 43) - Ages 13 and up
- Have a drink (or two, or three... ) at the bistro between 3 pm and 10:30 pm.
- See the conversation between Michel Labrecque and Jean-François Rheault on the history of the Grand Tour at 5 p.m. at the village bistro.
- Vibrate to the sounds of the group La boîte à chansons from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Your daily menu
