The Grand Tour of the Trois-Lacs: A Community Rides for a Cause

It starts with a bike. And a beautiful idea.

It’s the story of a woman—let’s call her Francine St-Denis. Or better yet, it’s the story of a whole community: Vaudreuil-Soulanges. One day, an idea began to blossom, like spring slowly awakening the region: What if we organized a large cycling loop around our area? The idea snowballed. In less than five months, everything was in place for 500 cyclists to ride through the scenic asphalted roads of the region—under the June sun.

The story of the Grande boucle des Trois-Lacs, held on June 15, brought together cyclists of all ages and radiated hope. At a time when bad news often circulates freely, the account given by Francine St-Denis—president of the Trois-Lacs School Board and founding member of the event—was a balm for the soul:

"This event brought people together," says the running and cycling enthusiast. "It came from the community. People were happy to get behind something positive—to pedal for a child who would receive a bike."

More than just a sporting event, the Grande Boucle partnered with the Zèbre Rouge, a social enterprise offering bike rentals, and managed to provide 63 bicycles to children who didn’t have one. The organizing committee recently established itself as a non-profit organization and donated $1,000 to Sébastien Demers, the founder of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Circus School. When riding generates more than sweat…

A True Community Project

Dozens of people embraced the vision of circling the region by bike for a good cause.

"It’s a beautiful story of community," says Francine. "Sometimes we think that kind of spirit is gone because life moves so fast and people are out for themselves—but there’s still good out there, and I saw it here."

Names like Lucie, Geneviève, Julie, Édith, Josiane, Isabelle—or simply Jean-Noël, Éric, and Gaston—all came together. One person provided race bibs, another redesigned the logo, someone else handled the event's publicity. Each played a part.

"There’s a movement behind this that I can’t quite explain," Francine continues, who also advises micro-businesses at Réseau Emploi Entrepreneurship. "It’s an event that brings joy, and it’s accessible to everyone."

This bike story, built by and for the community, could fill a whole novel. But to discover the next chapter, the reader-cyclist must head to Cité-des-Jeunes on the morning of June 21. And if you spot a smiling woman—maybe named Lucie, Geneviève, or Francine—ask her:
"So, how many bikes did you give away this year?"

To register for the 2025 edition of La grande boucle des Trois-Lacs, visit lagrandeboucle.ca.