The Quebec Cup, sponsored by the firm Argon 18, consists of a series of events staggered at two or three week intervals though out the course of the season for young up-and-coming cyclists of Quebec. Sanctioned by the Quebec Federation of Cycling Sports, it is under the overall supervision of Technical Director Mr. Louis Barbeau, who oversees the races themselves.

Each event of the Cup consists of 3 stages: a road or circuit race, an individual time trial, and a criterium. And, beginning with 1999, a skills competition was added which allows one to accumulate points towards the overall Cup standings. Sometimes there's a team time trial in competition, but with this type of race there's not point for the racer.

After each event of the Cup, the Argon 18 jersey is awarded to the champion as determined by who has the most total cumulative points. At the end of the season, trophies are awarded to the top three riders in each category as determined by their overall point total for the entire season. I had the honor of being awarded one of these trophies for my 3rd place finish in 1999. Pascal Moreault, who is from the same club as myself, also received this honor by finishing in 3rd place in the 1998 Espoir Cup in the Pee-Wee category.

But in addition to the competition itself, the Espoir Cup is a wonderful opportunity to visit Quebec since the cities of all the clubs have the chance to host one of the events, and thus the Cup offers an excellent chance to make friends with other young cyclists. The Espoir Cup gave me the opportunity to improve myself and go beyond my limits. The rigorous training, the painful muscles, and the difficult races taught me the value of hard work and enabled me to learn that success comes at a price. The Espoir Cup is the rendezvous for hundreds of courageous young cyclists each determined to finish each test in the front ranks, for in cycling, all are champions!

For me, the Espoir Cup is synonymous with pride, with friendship, with craziness, with laughter, with tears, and sadness, but above all else, it is about surpassing oneself.