THE 1000 KM EVENT
Each year in June, Pierre Lavoie is joined by hundreds of experienced and devoted cyclists for The 1000 KM ride – the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie’s flagship event that rallies and unites all of Quebec. As always, Pierre leads the pack, while the five cyclists on each team take turns riding behind him.
One village, 1000 memorable moments
Over four days, from June 11th to 14th, 2026, 240 teams of 5 cyclists will cover 1000 km, divided into 13 stages. Through these stages, cyclists will ride in and around the Montérégie region, always returning to the same starting point: the Village Avril.
The Village Avril
The famous RVs have been replaced by high-end glamping tents. Forming a large village, the tents are complemented by kiosks and complete facilities (toilets, showers, water points, fireplaces, etc.) to ensure the comfort of participants.
Two conditions to fulfill in order to participate :
- Each team must choose one of the three options of the sponsorship program, aimed at implementing projects that promote healthy lifestyles among young people. The first option involves contributing directly to the projects of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie. The second option involves supporting the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie Foundation by sponsoring research on rare hereditary diseases and healthy lifestyles among young people. The third option is the sponsorship of one or more elementary schools. All donations exceeding the registration fees will be allocated to the selected sponsorship option.
- Teams are also encouraged to have as one of their members a friend or acquaintance who is more sedentary and who wants to take a healthy turn for the better with a change in lifestyle.
A social movement that brings hope
The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie distributed more than 2,980,933 million dollars in 2025 and 39.3 million dollars since its beginnings to promote healthy life habits among young people and to support research on orphan hereditary diseases. This was done by means of scholarships and grants awarded by the Fondation du Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and through the school sponsorships of the teams in The 1000 KM.
Kudos to the school sponsorships!
In 2025, the participants in The 1000 KM alone raised 2.97 million dollars through the sponsorship program. Each registered team participated in the sponsorship program by donating its surplus to one of the following three causes: Grand défi projects, the Fondation du Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, or an elementary school of its choice.
Profits generated by The 1000 KM
The profits generated by The 1000 KM are given to the Fondation du Grand défi Pierre Lavoie to support research on orphan hereditary diseases and projects promoting healthy life habits.
A Team Achievement. A Unique Experience
The 1000 KM offers participants an extraordinary human and athletic experience. It is the perfect opportunity to push yourself to new heights in many different ways. The 1000 KM is also…
- Stepping out of one’s comfort zone to discover unexpected inner strengths.
- Experiencing an unforgettable group adventure marked by moments of intense effort and euphoria, all shared with remarkable people who champion the same values.
- Asserting one’s commitment to taking a healthy turn for the better. The major media attention given to this event is the perfect platform to showcase the values that you, your company or your organization share with Grand défi Pierre Lavoie.
