Tour de l’Île cancels one route as Vélo Québec cites ‘logistics’

Cyclists set out on the Tour de l’Île, in Montreal, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Tour de l’Île, which encourages cyclists to take to the streets of a car-free Montreal, is down to two routes for the 2025 event, citing “overall logistics” as the reason for cutting one course.

Vélo Québec explains that it had originally planned to offer three route options for this year’s Tour de l’Île: 25 km, 50 km and 100 km.

However, the organization says it recently made the “difficult decision” to cancel the 25 km route.

“This decision was the result of a combination of factors,” Vélo Québec notes. “I want to emphasize that we have nothing at all against the city — on the contrary, they have been incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the process.”

The organization explains that construction in Jarry and Jeanne-Mance parks, as well as private construction sites and traffic management, forced it to reconsider offering a third route.

Vélo Québec adds that participants who had contacted organizers about the 25km option will be provided with alternative options or a refund.

“It’s also worth noting that the 25 km option hasn’t always been part of the event,” the team points out. “It was offered in 2024, but not in 2021, 2022 or 2023.”

The 40th annual Tour de l’Île is slated to take place on June 1, with the Tour la Nuit taking place on May 30.