Mont-Sainte-Anne 2023 UCI World Cup - A successful transition for the new organization of the 28ᵉ edition
October 11, 2023
Mont Sainte-Anne, Beaupré, October 11, 2023 - The Mont-Sainte-Anne UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2023 came to an end on Monday following a series of outstanding sporting performances and an incredible response from the public. Nearly 45,000 spectators flocked to the mountain over the five days of the event to witness the breathtaking spectacle put on by the athletes and to take part in the many free activities offered on the site.
The Mouvement Production team, the new organizers of the World Cup, rose brilliantly to the challenge of this important transition year. They were able to deliver an event of the highest quality, to the great satisfaction of the athletes, teams, partners and exhibitors, making this last stop of the World Series an emotional experience that sports fans will remember for a long time to come!
When the passion of the sport and the autumn colours come together
When passion for the sport and the fall colours come together
Despite the uncertain weather at times, the spectators lining the courses created an electrifying atmosphere at each of the World Cup events.
“We had a huge challenge on our hands in this important transition year, when the legendary Côte-de-Beaupré event was handed over to a new local production team, explains Marie-France Couture, Executive Producer for the Corporation Événements d'été de Québec. Expectations were high! We had new partners, a major new collaboration with Warner Bros Discovery, and a date on the mountain that had been moved to the autumn! We're delighted to see how enthusiastically the audience responded.
Ian Beaulieu, cofounder of Mouvement Production and production director, added: "We're extremely proud of this year's edition, which was tinted with the magnificent colours of autumn. We've received an avalanche of positive feedback. The renewed courses, the impeccable running of the competitions and the exceptional atmosphere during the races made this event a memorable finale for the UCI World Series. We would like to thank all the athletes, spectators, partners and our 600 volunteers who helped make this World Cup such a success.
Canada's Goldstone wins the downhill at Mont Sainte-Anne!
The event will live long in the memory, thanks in particular to the extraordinary victory of Canadian Jackson Goldstone. In front of one of the biggest crowds ever seen at Mont-Sainte-Anne, the 19-year-old Canadian won the gold medal in the final of the UCI Downhill World Cup. This victory was reminiscent of the triumph of his compatriot Finn Iles in 2022 at the same venue. The latter, however, had to settle for a 22ᵉ position this year following a bad crash on his final run.
Quebecers shine at the UCI XCO Cross-Country World Cups
Numerous Quebec athletes demonstrated their talent throughout the cross-country competitions (short track and Olympic) held on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Léandre Bouchard’s remarkable performance from Alma, a favourite at the Mont-Ste-Anne events, was definitely a heart-stopping moment for the waiting crowd, as he crossed the finish line in 16thᵉ place in the elite Olympic cross-country final.
"This 16ᵉ place gives me real satisfaction! In the last lap, I was able to stay focused, which made this race at home an extraordinary experience. It was one of the most memorable moments of my career, and my best performance at Mont-Sainte-Anne! Ending the season in this way, after a difficult season, boosts my confidence for the winter ahead. It's simply incredible," said Léandre Bouchard, with great emotion.
Gabriel Néron, who took part in the elite World Cup downhill final, finished in 37ᵉ place, his best career performance on the World Cup circuit. On the women's side, Laurie Arseneault also stood out, finishing 24ᵉ in a difficult race, at the elite World Cup final in Olympic cross-country.
A long weekend of competitions for all!
Despite the incident that occurred on Saturday evening, many participants enjoyed the festive programme of the event to the rhythm of several DJs who contributed to the party.
For the first time, the event was held over the long Thanksgiving weekend, and the organizing committee's vision was to take advantage of the extra day to extend the festivities. More than 330 children, aged 2 to 12, had fun on the new KIDOVÉLO presented by Desjardins, a race organized in collaboration with the Cycling Club Mont-Sainte-Anne.
The day was also punctuated by Pumptrack competitions presented by Rocky Mountain, which attracted several hundred spectators. The winners of the UCI Pumptrack qualification were Niels Bensink, an athlete from the Netherlands and the reigning world champion, and Quebecer Thessalie Bruno, a BMX athlete who already defended Canada's honour at the BMX World Championships held in Scotland last August. Niels Bensink and Thessalie Bruno will be taking part in the Pump Track World Championships in November.
Thank you to our partners!
The Corporation Événements d'été de Québec and Mouvement Production would like to thank all the partners who made this 28th edition possible, especially our public and tourism partners: Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Sport Canada, the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur, the Ministère du Tourisme, the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale, Destination Québec Cité, Développement Côte-de-Beaupré and Mouvement Mont-Sainte-Anne, Ville de Beaupré and the Municipalité de Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges. Our thanks also go to Takis®, a brand of Bimbo Canada, the event's new national partner; Station Mont-Sainte-Anne, the event's host site; Delta Hotels Marriott Mont-Sainte-Anne, the official accommodation provider; Desjardins, the eco-responsibility and active health partner; and Boréale, the partner for the festive evenings.