Flight Delay Disrupts Cyclists Ahead of Quebec Grand Prix
The lead-up to the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec hit an unexpected snag earlier this week when part of the European peloton found themselves stranded in Paris for several hours. The issue wasn’t on the road but in the air, as their Air Canada flight from Paris to Montreal faced mechanical problems that caused a significant delay.
Originally scheduled to leave Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle at 9 a.m., flight AC875 was held back due to engine trouble. Passengers, including many top riders expected at the prestigious Québec and Montréal races, were kept inside the aircraft for about an hour and a half before being asked to disembark. The delay stretched into nearly five hours before the plane finally took off around 2 p.m.
By the time the cyclists land at Montréal-Trudeau, it will already be mid-afternoon, with their arrival estimated at 3:30 p.m. From there, the group will be quickly transported by bus to Quebec City, where preparations for the race are in full swing. While the delay has not derailed the event itself, it certainly added a layer of fatigue and frustration to the riders’ travel experience.
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Air Canada, which has already been in the spotlight due to ongoing labor tensions, found itself under fresh scrutiny. Despite a recent tentative agreement with flight attendants being rejected by an overwhelming majority, no strike or lockout is expected in the near term. Still, the airline admits that nearly half a million customers have already been affected by cancellations linked to labor disputes over the past month.
This is not the first time Air Canada has been criticized within the cycling world. Fans may recall that back in 2022, Canadian rider Guillaume Boivin endured a nightmare start to the Tour de France after his luggage and bicycles were lost by the airline. Forced to borrow a teammate’s bike during the opening stage in Copenhagen, Boivin openly vented his anger, especially since his equipment was still unaccounted for three weeks later.
Despite these setbacks, anticipation remains high for the races themselves. The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec will take place on September 12, followed by its Montréal counterpart on September 14. Both events are key fixtures on the UCI WorldTour calendar and attract some of the best riders in the world.
This year, all eyes are on Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogačar, considered the favorite heading into the competition. But the field is stacked with talent—Belgian powerhouse Wout Van Aert, Australia’s Michael Matthews, France’s Julian Alaphilippe, and rising star Arnaud De Lie are all expected to battle fiercely for victory.
So while the journey to Quebec was bumpy for many of the athletes, the stage is set for an exciting showdown on Canadian soil. Once the wheels hit the pavement, the earlier travel headaches will be forgotten, and the focus will shift fully to the racing drama that fans have been waiting to see.
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