Cycling is Taking Over Montreal

September in Montréal has a special energy. The streets feel alive, the parks fill with riders and this month the city is hosting some of the biggest cycling events in the world. Major routes around Mount Royal are being reserved for racing, turning everyday roads into a world‑class competition venue. It’s not a disruption; it’s a celebration. Montréal becomes a place where fans can stand just a few feet from the action and watch elite athletes climb, sprint and push themselves to the limit.

And right in the middle of all this? Someone who used to wear our shop jersey before wearing Canada’s.

Gabriel Séguin: From Cycle Paul to the Start Line

This week is a huge moment for Gabriel Séguin and we’re proud to say he once worked right here at Cycle Paul. Today, he’s lining up for two of the biggest races on the calendar: the Grand Prix Cyclistes Québec‑Montréal on Friday, September 11 (Québec) and on Sunday, September 13 (Montréal).

Gab isn’t just participating; he’s racing with Team Canada and representing Canada at the highest level. He’s arriving in Montréal with serious momentum. Over the past month, he raced:

• Tour de l’Avenir: the biggest under‑23 stage race in the world, often called the Tour de France for young riders

• The Commonwealth Games: an international multi‑sport event where athletes represent their countries

• Multiple national‑team events where he’s been wearing Canadian colours with pride

Seeing someone who used to help customers choose tires and suggest derailleurs now racing against the world’s best on Mount Royal is something special. It’s the kind of story that reminds us how strong the cycling community is here.

Local Riders Leading the Charge

Gab isn’t the only athlete with roots close to home. Several riders with ties to Montréal and across Québec are also representing Canada at this week’s Grand Prix races:

• Jérôme Gauthier (Québec, Canadian road champion)
• Samuel Couture (Québec)
• Jacob Roy (Québec)
• Derek Gee‑West (Canada, Canadian time trial champion and one of the country’s top road racers)
• Michael Woods (Canada, veteran and fan favourite)
  
• Jonas Walton (Canada)
  
• Adam Smith (Canada)

And Yes, the World’s Best Are Here Too

After our local and Canadian riders, the Grand Prix also brings in some of the biggest names in international cycling. Riders like Remco Evenepoel, Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro, world champions and rising stars, will be battling it out on the same climbs Montréal cyclists ride every week.

But for us, the spotlight stays on Gab and the Canadian squad.

A Busy Week at the Shop

With Montréal becoming a cycling hotspot this month, our workshop has been buzzing. Riders from the city, the West Island and visitors from out of town have been stopping by for bike rentals, last‑minute repairs, tune‑ups and pre‑event checks. Many are getting ready for local races, charity rides or community cycling events happening around the city while others are simply enjoying Montréal’s incredible cycling atmosphere during this big week.

It’s been amazing to meet so many people who are part of the excitement and energy surrounding cycling in Montréal right now.

Upcoming Events

Montréal’s cycling excitement doesn’t end with the Grand Prix. This month leads into one of the biggest sporting moments the city has seen since the 1976 Olympics. The next major event is just around the corner: the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, happening right here in Montréal from September 20 to 27. This is one of the most important races in all of cycling, the event where riders compete for the rainbow jersey worn only by world champions.

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) is the global organization that governs professional cycling and hosting a UCI World Championships is a huge deal. The event moves to a different country every year and last year it was held in Rwanda, where Québec’s own Magdeleine Vallieres‑Mill won the U23 Women’s Road Race and became world champion. Now, the spotlight shifts to Montréal.

This year’s races will use parts of the same Mount Royal circuit featured in the Grand Prix, so the climbs being raced this week are also the stage for next week’s global showdown. Fans will be able to watch from several viewing zones around the course with full details available on the official Montréal 2026 website and local broadcast partners.

It’s incredibly exciting that this global event is happening right here in Montréal, a great opportunity for local fans to see world‑class racing in their own backyard.

Good Luck to All Riders

To everyone racing, from local athletes to Canadian representatives to international stars, good luck. Montréal will be cheering for you at every climb, every corner and every sprint.

And to Gab: we’re proud of you. From the shop floor to the start line, you carry a piece of Cycle Paul with you.