The UCI Road World Championships wrapped up in Montreal this weekend, with organizers and the city saying the event was a major success. Others, however, had a different experience. The teardown is well underway on Park Avenue, the main site for the race. “Incredible for the City of Montreal, for the spectators, for the riders, the delegations that came from over 100 countries; all of them had nothing but praise for the City of Montreal,” said Montreal Executive Committee member Jim Beis. Event organizers say it’s mission accomplished, showing that Montreal can host an international event with 1,000 athletes from 100 countries. “For us, most of all, the participation of all the crowd coming from here, everywhere, for us it was simply amazing,” said event promoter Sebastien Arsenault. “I never saw an outdoor event like this one.” There was no shortage of street closures and parking restrictions leading up to the event and during the competition. “Our clients were kind of avoiding the area,” said Marika Moshonas, co-owner of Monas, which supplies restaurants with equipment and supplies. “It dissuaded them from coming. They really felt this whole area is an area to be avoided. “A lot of our neighbours, they were complaining as well that there was no extra foot traffic.” Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada says Montrealers should be proud. “We always said that this was not something that was going to be without ... some pain,” she said. “People had a bit of pain, and I understand that overall this is a huge success.” Cycles Gervais Rioux bike shop owner Gervais Rioux said it took some time before seeing a boost in business. “At the end it was good,” he said. “I had to hire more staff because the store was at some point really jam-packed.” He said no one purchased a bike, but he did sell a lot of accessories, and that an event like this will get more people riding bikes. “We’re going to see new people coming into biking,” said Rioux. “When you see an event with the spirit, you say, ‘Oh gosh, it looks like fun, I’m going to start to ride my bike.’” It’s a potential lasting impact resulting from what organizers called the biggest sporting event in the city since the 1976 Olympics.
