First known under the appellation velocipede, the bicycle had its origins towards the end of the 19th century. It was the Englishman J.K. Stanley who introduced in 1880 the first bicycle which, thanks to the drive chain, was powered at the rear wheel. In 1888, the invention of the pneumatic tire and the valve by the Scotsman J.B. Dunlop took the technological development of the bicycle one step further. Since that time, important innovations have been made to the bicycle which have improved its performance, the basic geometry has remained almost unchanged.

The sport of cycle racing had its origins in Europe, with the first cycling competitions dating back almost to the invention of the bicycle. This is also the time when the first Velodrome was constructed in Bordeaux (1885). At the same time the great classics, as they are known today, had their beginnings: Paris- Roubaix (1896), Paris-Tours (1896), the Tour de France (1903), and the Tour of Italy, or Giro d'Italia (1909).

In Canada, the Canadian Wheelmen's Association was one of the first five national federations. A member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), in 1960 it evolved into the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA). In Quebec, the National Union of Cyclists was founded. This developed, in 1972, into the Quebec Cycling Federation (FCQ). In 1984, the FCQ underwent a name change to the Quebec Federation of Cycling Sports (FQSC) to reflect the introduction of cyclo-cross racing. The sport of mountain bike racing made its debut in 1990.

Although the history of cycling in Canada and in Quebec is more modest by comparison to Europe, it is not less interesting. In 1899, Canada hosted the World Championships, while the years 1920, 1930, and 1940, were marked by the holding of a number of six-day races in Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto. At the same time, there was also seen the birth of the Quebec to Montreal Classic (1931), which celebrated its 50th running in 1998.

In 1974, Montreal hosted both the World Road Championships and the World Track Championships prior to hosting the 1976 Olympic Games. And finally, Bromont and the Mount Ste-Anne hosted the World Mountain Bike Championships in 1992 and 1998, respectively.

Today, the FQSC has more than 3500 members divided up into about a hundred clubs throughout the province of Quebec, which take part in some 250 competitions on the calendar of activities.