Well, the Montréal World Tour race did not disappoint this year. This was my 12th edition, and I make it a must-do on my yearly trips. How often do you get to see the best racers in the world right here in Canada?! It remains the only World Tour stop in North America and will also host the World Champs in 2026, so if you’ve never seen it live, book your vacation time right now! The course is amazing and offers some great vantage points on Mount Royal and throughout the city. For 2026, rumor has it that the course will be revised to cover a larger part of Montréal before finishing with the traditional circuits. Either way, it will no doubt be a tough and selective race.

This year, I dragged Kim and Sam with me to give them the full Montréal experience. I think I did a pretty good job, as they both survived and no one quit! The quick fly-in on Friday and leave on Monday left everyone with sore legs and an overworked immune system. But that’s the price you pay in the world of bike shop life. The weather was amazing, a swampy -28 degrees-and I had no complaints since I know the white stuff will be here soon enough. Along with watching some great racing, Montréal also gives me a chance to catch up with some of the amazing brands we carry and the people behind them. With trade shows disappearing, this venue is a perfect platform to chat with those in the bike industry. From other shops and bike brands to pro riders, it’s truly the perfect weekend for the PRW crew.

I had a great time hanging out with Factor’s Head of Engineering and good friend, Graham Shrive, along with some of the other great minds behind the brand (more on this in the next update). It’s always insightful to discuss what the future of drop bar bikes looks like. Pair this with some great restaurants, and a guy can get used to this! Besides some fantastic culinary adventures, we were treated to VIP passes to the race lounge and all that it has to offer. It’s a rosé-all-day kind of place, so Kim had no complaints. These passes were courtesy of Tony from Biemme, or Italian Uncle Tony, as I call him. He’s someone I’ve known for over 20 years and a good friend. Not only is he my Biemme contact, but he’s also owns De Rosa North America along with his son Leo. He’s good at making me feel important, and who doesn’t like that? Later, he hosted us for a nice little meet-and-greet with Astana. We were also lucky enough to meet the guys from Enve and get a chance to see what they have coming down the pipeline. Oh, and we had the chance to meet a guy named Pogacar, and he’s as nice in person as he is on TV. He later showed us why he’s the best bike racer on the planet right now. All in all, it was a great three nights, and we look forward to heading there next year. I’ll try to hit the Quebec race on the Friday next time if the planets align, as that would be amazing as well. Besides the big pros, it’s also cool to see up-and-coming Canadian racers who make up the composite National Team for the event. In the past, Edmonton’s own Evan Burtnik flew the flag with the big boys, and this year it was once again friend of PRW, Quentin Cowan. Q proved why he was once again chosen for the races, finishing both of them as a U23 and punching his ticket to represent Canada at the Worlds in Zurich. Not bad for an Alberta boy!

It’s interesting to compare attending this back in 2012 with the state of the road bike business then. A lot has stayed the same, and a lot has changed for the better. We are at a time when there is brand fatigue and brands struggling to be relevant. Those that can adapt and stay genuine to their branding are definitely at an advantage. Those resting on what they did 10 years ago will not survive unless they innovate or offer something that others do not. This can be amazing products or amazing service. It’s no different than what’s going on with bike shops: stay relevant or disappear. Trust me, after 25 years, I always stress the importance of making sure we stay relevant and fresh; it’s not easy. It’s tough to know if how we are doing things is the right way or if we are being left behind. One thing I do know is that we are continually evolving in what we do, and those who understand our mission get it. Those who don’t—that’s okay too. My bike shop philosophy is definitely different; it goes against the traditional bike retail experience, but to me, that’s a good thing. Unapologetically premium bikes.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully, you got a bit of insight into our little world. Sorry if I rambled on; I’m just trying to put more pen to paper than just jamming your feed on the gram. Ciao!