(Lachine, QC) August 11, 2014 – François Parisien, a former WorldTour cyclist with the Dutch team Argos Shimano, will be on the start line tomorrow of the pro-elite race of the Mardis Cyclistes presented by Jean Coutu. Parisien tells us that he will be there with the intention of winning the stage. He currently rides with the OPUS team but wearing the jersey of PowerWatts studio.

François « Frabk the Tank » Parisien (right) with former coach, Jean-Yves Labonté on Aug. 5. Photo: John Symon

« I think Francois is able to rival our champion, Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Quebecor) and win the stage, » said organizer Mardis Cyclistes, Joseph « Tino » Rossi noting that Parisien was formerly a member of the Professional continental team SpiderTech p /b C10 and was the Canadian road champion in 2005. In addition, Parisien was the first Quebecer to win a WorldTour race at the fifth stage in a sprint at the 93rd Tour of Catalonia on March 22, 2013 Since March 2014, Paris, aged 32, has been a sports commentator for RDS television.

Rossi also notes that the weather tomorrow will be conducive for setting a new speed record. Rossi expects some 25,000 spectators on Tuesday night. For the spectators, there will be free food, prizes, raffles, and fireworks. « We’re going to party hard! » he promised.

The circuit Mardis Cyclistes is located around Lasalle Park in the Montreal borough of Lachine (STM bus 90). The minime race (male and female) will begin at 17:30, followed by junior category competition (M + F) at 6 p.m., ending with the Pro-Elite race (men) at 6:50 p.m. The race is free for spectators.