In twelve weeks Canada’s premier amateur cycling event, Classique d’Appalaches, is scheduled to take place in Quebec on 3 July.

Unfortunately the bike race is not going to happen and Canadian’s hoping to qualify for the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship are out of luck. Shite out of luck since Classique d’Appalaches is the only UCI Gran Fondo World Series (GFWS) event in Canada.

Eh?!

Like many other races in the series, it has been called off due to a recent rise in coronavirus cases.

Without any kerfuffle, press release, social media post or an email to registered riders, recently the event web site was taken down without explanation. A vague reference to a possible new date, 28 August, is listed on the event Twitter account, but no details are offered.

With the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships still scheduled for 5 September in Bosnia-Herzegovina, even an 28 August date would likely not be approved by the UCI since it does not provide enough time to certify results, notify qualified riders and for riders to make overseas travel plans.

The last twelve months have not been kind to Canadian UCI Gran Fondo World Series riders. Three events in the country have been cancelled, including the series crown jewel – the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships planned for 2020 in Vancouver.

Photos © UCI GFWS

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