MONTREAL, Quebec (BRAIN)--ExpoCycle 2011, the trade show powered by the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, was a buzz with more than 75 team members representing nine Pro-Cycling Teams.
ExpoCycle 2011 coinciding with the UCI World Tour event on the opening day of the Show, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal, helped exhibitors bring these athletes to the show to meet retailers and sign autographs. The winner of yesterday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal,Rui Costa of Team Movistar, along with Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez of Team Euskaltel Euskadi, and the Astana Pro Cycling Team visited F3 Distribution’s booth.
Louis Garneau Sports hosted five riders of the Europcar Pro Cycling Team, including Pierre Rolland (2011 Tour de France Overall Best Young Rider and 1st on the prestigious Alpe d’Huez stage) and Quebec-born David Veilleux (Best North American, 2011 Paris-Roubaix), met retailers and signed autographs.
Outdoor Gear Canada (OGC) invited six riders from the BMC Racing Team, including several who helped Cadel Evans win this year’s Tour de France: Alessandro Ballan, George Hincapie, Amael Moinard, Tim Roe, Danilo Wyss and Yannick Eijssen, all signed autographs and chatted with retailers.
Shimano, Thule and Podium Imports all hosted Team SpiderTech power by C10 at different times during the afternoon. Cycle Lambert hosted a meet and greet with Pro-Team Cofidis. Team Vacansoleil-DCM riders Johnny Hoogerland, Bjorn Leukermans and M. Veuchlen attended the Ridley booth for autographs. Team Katusha riders also met retailers in the Lazer booth.
“We are thrilled and honoured to have such high-profile athletes at our Canadian industry trade show,” said Janet O’Connell, executive director, Bicycle Trade Association of Canada--producers of ExpoCycle 2011. “Having these athletes onsite added even more buzz to ExpoCycle 2011 and heightened the overall experience for retailers attending. It allowed them to not only chat with the riders, but bring signed posters back to their stores.”