Tour la Nuit cancelled due to thunderstorms in Montreal

Cyclists take part in the Tour la Nuit on June 3, 2022. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

The brief but stormy weather Montreal had Friday night brought the annual Tour la Nuit to a grinding halt.

Organizers said they had no choice but to cancel the event due to safety concerns.

“Right up until the very last moment, the teams from Vélo Québec, the City of Montreal, and the Montreal Police Service worked together to find a solution that would ensure the safety of the route. Despite all efforts, no safe option could be identified,” Vélo Québec said in a statement on its website.

“The safety of participants remains our top priority. Under these circumstances, given the weather conditions, it was not feasible to hold the event without being able to guarantee optimal safety conditions.”

The 20-kilometre Tour la Nuit was set to begin at Jarry Park at 8 p.m. and pass through the Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Saint-Laurent, and Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension boroughs.

However, Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Montreal area shortly after 8 p.m., before small hail and brief bursts of rain came down, sending people looking for cover. The weather advisory ended shortly before 9 p.m.

Vélo Québec said cyclists who planned to participate in Friday’s event will be able to use their race bib for the Tour de l’Île scheduled for Sunday. More details will be provided at a later date.