5e édition du Défi 808 Bonneville au profit de la FAEQ :Lancement, ouverture des inscriptions, nouveautés et 110 000 $ en bourses

Montreal, April 1, 2021 – The Fondation de l'athlète d'excellence (FAEQ) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 5th^e edition of the 808 Bonneville Challenge, presented by Fenplast and Lowe’s Canada in collaboration with Samson Groupe Conseil/Lussier Dale Parizeau and Québecor. The cycling event, benefiting the FAEQ, is scheduled for Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18, once again in the Mont-Tremblant region, in agreement with public authorities, the host site, and the enforcement of current sanitary measures.

2021 News:

Three new challenges have been created for fans of gravel bike (ggravel bike), meaning the 125 km, the 202 km, and the 404 km non-stop. Two new distances were added for recreational road cyclists, the 70 km and the 80 km that form the new 150 km package over two days. And a new combo, gravel and road, is also offered with the 125 km gravel ride on Friday and the 115 km road ride on Saturday. The Tremblant Resort is once again the hub of the event, and the 404 km single-loop road bike course will still be accessible for the 115 km solo, 125 km solo, 202 km solo or duo, and the 404 km and 808 km solo, duo, or 4-person team categories.

The Bonneville 808 Challenge is therefore now accessible to cyclists of all levels in addition to electric bikes (e-bikes) which have been permitted since 2020 for all distances (except the 808 km race). As in 2020, the organizers will do everything possible to ensure everyone’s safety and health in compliance with the health regulations in effect at that time.

Thanks to this flagship annual event, the FAEQ was able to proceed this noon with a 2^e A wave of scholarship awards totaling 110,000 $ distributed to 34 studentsThese are some of the most promising student-athletes, thanks to the generosity of its partners and participants who contributed to the 2020 fundraising campaign.

During a live presentation on Facebook, the two presenting sponsors, Fenplast (16,000 1Q-4Q) and Lowe's Canada (22,000 $) as well as the major partner Bonneville Industries (72,000 $) were thus able to recognize and interact with some of the student-athletes they sponsor (see table below).

Last December, the Athletic Excellence Foundation took the opportunity to award the first scholarships related to the 4^e edition of the Bonneville 808 Challenge. No fewer than 24 sponsors awarded 65,500 $ in scholarships to 25 outstanding student-athletes.

What they said:

«The pandemic has had many negative consequences, but it has also had some positive ones, including the discovery or rediscovery by many of outdoor sports, particularly cycling. The 2020 edition of the Défi 808 Bonneville was a prime example of this, as a surprising number of cycling enthusiasts of all skill levels rode to raise funds for the FAEQ despite the strict health restrictions that had to be followed. We would like to thank all the participants and partners for making this another resounding success. We are truly confident that we will be able to offer them the same enjoyment and sense of achievement again next September!»

– Dany Bonneville, president and founder of the Défi 808 Bonneville and ultracyclist

«FAEQ employees and our partners at the Défi 808 Bonneville had to roll up their sleeves and be creative to deliver an event that offered the same fun and challenges last year. The results of their efforts were impressive, allowing us to financially support and mentor even more student-athletes despite pandemic-related constraints. With the announced progress of COVID-19 vaccination, it is with genuine enthusiasm that we invite cyclists of all levels, on road bikes or gravel bikes, this coming September 17 and 18 for the 5^e Bonneville 808 Challenge edition.»

– Claude Chagnon, President of the Foundation for Athletic Excellence

To see all the scholarship holders