You can submit changes to your team name until May 31, 2010. Please let us know about any name changes as early as possible by writing to Mèva at info@legdpl.com.

A chip system will be used for the 2010 edition. When a cyclist passes the start and finish gate, they will be logged by a custom chip system installed on each bike. This allows us to control the maximum number of riders per team in the peloton at each stage.

The system will also provide relevant statistics for each cyclist, such as time and kilometres traveled.

We cannot make exceptions for the length of recreational vehicles, vans or trailers used in the 1,000-km event. The constraints imposed by Sûreté du Québec do not allow us to exceed 31’ per team (total length). These restrictions will allow vehicles to be safely parked at stops during the 1,000-km.

The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie team takes all measures to ensure that the 1,000-km event proceeds safely and without incident. We ask for your cooperation in complying with traffic regulations to the letter. Since the event takes place over 60 hours and fatigue among team members will increase, remain vigilant. We suggest that you regularly rotate drivers in your vehicle. We will allow one designated driver who is not a rider to accompany the team.

Plan some bike rides together to gain experience on the bike and test your equipment. If possible, practice riding in a peloton. Get out on at least one rainy day to test your clothes. Remember that the 1,000-km event lasts 60 consecutive hours, so you will also need to schedule driver rotation and naps.

Those leading the peloton must report obstacles on the ground (holes, cracks), and this information must be relayed by cyclists to those at the rear of the peloton. The most effective way of doing this is to point out the obstacle with your hand just before passing it. When the peloton is preparing to take a curve, maintain your position in the peloton and keep a line that corresponds to your lateral position at the beginning of the curve. You can come within no more than 20 cm of another cyclist’s wheel (between 0 and 45 degrees behind the front wheel, depending on wind direction). The suction effect is optimal at a distance of up to 30-35 cm.

In the peloton, keep at least one hand firmly on the handlebars and get ready to hit the brakes.

In a descent, place both hands firmly on the handlebars or the poles with your fingers on the brakes, ready for any situation. Increase your distance from the rider ahead of you.

If you stand up to put more pressure on the pedals, take care not to cause your bike to slow down. If you’re not careful, the slowdown could reposition your rear wheel several inches back relative to your teammates behind you who did not anticipate this sudden change in speed or tempo. To avoid this slowdown, before standing shift up one or two gears (for higher power) and get up from your seat by pushing down on your pedal when your foot is near the two o’clock position. This will help you to avoid slowing down or accelerating, which could cause your front wheel to come in contact with the cyclist ahead of you.

In wet conditions, be alert and anticipate any situations that might occur. Avoid riding directly behind the cyclist ahead of you. A small lateral shift of 5 cm will help you to avoid getting the stream of water and dirt from his or her rear wheel in your eyes. Keep in mind that your brakes will also respond less quickly.

Whether you are alone or in a group, clear the road when breakdowns or peloton stoppages occur.

Since safety is our first priority, we need more experienced cyclists to act as coaches. Twenty (20) coaches per stage are needed to ensure optimum peloton formation. Coaches must be good teachers and seasoned cyclists, as their job is to advise the other participants. They should ride at the back of the peloton and, if necessary, accompany cyclists in trouble back to the front. Unlike a race environment, the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 1,000-km peloton puts inexperienced cyclists at the front and stronger cyclists at the back.

Coaches will be clearly identified with an armband, and will help the organization to ensure the best possible progress throughout the ride by providing advice and ensuring safety. Their participation, which is voluntary, is essential for the proper functioning of the 1,000-km event. It is possible that some teams will have no experienced cyclists, but having one is not mandatory.

An experienced rider is one who:

• Regularly rides or has experience riding in a peloton of more than 4 cyclists;
• Is able to maintain a minimum average speed of 27 km/h over 100 km alone;
• Rides at least 3,000 km/year.

Cyclists interested in becoming coaches must inform their captain, who will submit their applications during team registration on June 17. A mandatory briefing/training session for coaches will be held on Thursday, June 17 at 4:00 p.m. at the Palais municipal in La Baie.

After departing La Baie on Friday, June 18, the adventure begins with a slow lap around the town of La Baie. The goal is not only to warm up our legs, but also thank the town’s inhabitants for the support they have given to Pierre Lavoie over the years. We urge all cyclists to participate. Several entertainment activities are planned to pump up the crowd assembled on the pier.

During the last stage before arrival at the Olympic Stadium, all cyclists will join the peloton and put on their Grand défi Pierre Lavoie jerseys.

The Olympic Stadium will have a VIP room, cocktail party, secure bike storage, a medal ceremony and plenty of entertainment. Even if you’re tired, it will be worth it to stay up and enjoy the fun.

Palais municipal
1831, 6^ième Avenue
La Baie (Québec)  G7B 1S1

Pavillon du Quai d’escale
900, rue Mars
La Baie (Québec)  G7B 3N7

Mechanic services will be offered throughout the day. It is very important that your bike be in top working condition.

There will be two stopovers of one and a half hour (1 h 30 min) each in Quebec City and Laval.

Quebec City: Friday, June 18: A musical performance will take place at 5:00 p.m. to pump up the crowd in preparation for the arrival of the peloton, which is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. There will be several fun zones for the entertainment of the crowd.

Laval: Saturday, June 19: For the purposes of this event, the 1,000-km event of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie will join forces with the Loto-Québec World Choral Festival. The cyclists will arrive around 6:00 p.m. and be welcomed by Gregory Charles. As usual, fun zones will be set up.

All other stops will be approximately 20-60 minutes in length, according to needs.

The length of each stage varies between 50 and 125 km. Set up your relay system in the desired order so all team members can ride several segments of the 1,000 km. At every stop, there will be water, sports drinks, coffee and snacks (fruit, cheese, chocolate milk, etc.). For stages over 80 km, there will be a stop mid-way through for refreshments, including water and sports drinks. These stops will be 7 minutes in length.

There are two night stages: Ste-Marie/Thetford-Mines (stage #5) and Grenville/Gatineau (stage #11). Two lighting systems will allow us to ride safely at night.

The first high-performance system will be used by individual cyclists traveling at night. Only one rider per team will be allowed to ride at night. This system will be distributed on Thursday, June 17 and recovered after the Grenville/Gatineau stage.

The second lighting system will be installed on the vehicle immediately in front of and behind the pack. This system will provide dim lighting so as not to blind the riders at night.

Hot and hearty meals will be served at the following stops for all members of the team, including the driver:

• Thursday, June 17 – La Baie – Pasta buffet dinner
• Friday, June 18 - La Baie – Breakfast
• Friday, June 18 – L'Étape – Lunch
• Friday, June 18 – Quebec City – Dinner
• Saturday, June 19 – Victoriaville – Breakfast
• Saturday, June 19 – Trois-Rivières – Lunch
• Saturday, June 19 – Laval – Dinner
• Sunday, June 20 – Gatineau – Breakfast
• Sunday, June 20 – Valleyfield – Lunch
• Sunday, June 20 – Olympic Stadium – Dinner

There will be two extended stops that will allow the participants to sleep for a short period:

• Victoriaville – from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Gatineau – from 3:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.

The stages are classed according to three speeds:

• Regular: average of 27 km/h
• Intermediate: average of 30 km/h
• Experienced: between 33 and 35 km/h

The speed of the peloton may change depending on the weather. If this happens, departure times will have to be earlier, because the arrival time cannot be changed.

Cyclists with a flat tire will be picked up by the Grand défi chase vehicle. Once the repair is completed and the situation allows it, the rider will be returned to the peloton.

At each stop, full repair services will be available. The cost of replaced parts will be charged to the rider.

During the 1,000-km event, you will be able to take a shower (men and women’s facilities) during stops in Quebec City, Victoriaville, Drummondville, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Gatineau and Valleyfield.

Of course, there will be men and women’s restrooms at every stop.

The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie team will provide you with a jersey (Pearl Izumi brand), to be worn on the last stage of the 1,000 km event for the arrival at the Olympic Stadium. You are free to wear any jersey you like on the other course stages. Make sure you indicate the size required for each member of your team on the team sheet found on our website, www.legdpl.com. We will try our best to accommodate cyclists who provided their size after January 11, 2010. After this date, however, we cannot guarantee you will get the right size.

Since your jersey is probably the best way for you to provide visibility for your sponsors, here are some companies who design custom jerseys:

Identifications Sport
http://www.identificationsports.com/

Apogee, based in Quebec City, also designs high-end sportswear and is capable of fast turnarounds.
http://www.apogee-sports.com

For all donors, receipts issued will correspond to 80% of the donation amount. The remaining 20% goes toward covering the organization costs for the 1,000-km event (food, jerseys, safety, etc.).