What Vélo Québec does

Vélo Québec is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 and headquartered in Montreal, dedicated to developing and promoting cycling culture across Quebec. It operates a diversified portfolio spanning event management, publications, education, certification, and cycling tourism. Its core programs include the Festival Go vélo Montréal (encompassing the Tour de l'Île de Montréal in its 41st edition, Tour la Nuit, and Défi métropolitain, attracting 38,000+ cyclists annually), the Petite Aventure and Grand Tour cyclotouristic events, the VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE municipal and organizational certification program, and the Cycliste averti school cycling education program that has trained approximately 17,994 children across 163 schools since 2015. Under a formal mandate from Quebec's Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable, Vélo Québec coordinates the development of the Route verte, a 5,000+ km provincial cycling network.

The organization generates revenue through membership fees, event registration, publication sales (Vélo Mag and Québec Science magazine via subsidiary Vélo Québec Éditions), cycling tour packages (Vélo Québec Voyages serves approximately 6,000 travelers per year across 70+ destinations), consulting and professional training, and government grants from multiple Quebec ministries and agencies. Distribution leverages direct-to-consumer websites, all bicycle shops across Quebec for publications and travel brochures, school-based delivery for Cycliste averti, and direct B2B relationships with municipalities. Key partners include Les Producteurs de lait du Québec (presenting sponsor of Festival Go vélo Montréal), Desjardins (flagship school partnership since 2020), the Ville de Montréal, ARTM, Sports Experts, and Bixi. The organization holds no parent company, operates as a membership-based association governed by a board of directors, and runs two wholly owned subsidiaries — Vélo Québec Voyages and Vélo Québec Éditions.

Name

Vélo Québec

Legal name

Vélo Québec

Website

https://velo.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vélo Québec is a Montreal-based non-profit founded in 1967 that develops cycling culture in Quebec through flagship events (Tour de l'Île, Festival Go vélo Montréal), the Route verte network coordination, school cycling education, and a publishing and cycling tour subsidiary serving individual cyclists, municipalities, schools, and tourism operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cycling Advocacy and Community Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-Bike Adventure Tour Operators (THAAADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cycling Events (Road Races, Gran Fondos, Sportives) (MPAKAIAC), Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• Cycling advocacy
• Cycling event management
• Cyclotourism services
• Cycling education programs
• Community certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Vélo Québec offers multiple membership tiers: individual and family, road cycling clubs, mountain bike clubs, mountain bike centers, communities and organizations, and discovery memberships. Membership supports the organization's mission and provides benefits to members.
2. Event registration and participation fees: Revenue from cyclotouristic events including the Petite Aventure (all-inclusive format with camping, meals, baggage transport, and guided routes) and the Grand Tour (offered in full 6-day, weekend, and day-pass formats). The Tour de l'Île de Montréal and related Festival Go vélo Montréal activities also generate registration fees.
3. Festival Go vélo Montréal: The annual Festival Go vélo Montréal encompasses the Tour de l'Île de Montréal (40+ year tradition, 21,000+ cyclists), Tour la Nuit, and the Défi métropolitain. The festival is presented by Les Producteurs de lait du Québec, with Desjardins, Sports Experts, and Bixi as associated sponsors.
4. Publications and magazines: Vélo Québec publishes Vélo Mag and Québec Science (8 issues/year, newsstand price $9.50, also by subscription). Technical publications include the cycling infrastructure design guide. Books, guides, and maps are sold through the website and in bicycle shops across Quebec.
5. Vélo Québec Voyages — Cycling tour packages: The travel agency arm offers cycling vacations to 70+ destinations in Quebec, Canada, and internationally, serving approximately 6,000 travelers per year. Multiple formula options: guided (Vélo Québec Voyages), self-guided (En liberté), custom group (Groupe Sur mesure), and event-based (Événement). Brochures distributed in bike shops.
6. Consulting and professional training services: Vélo Québec provides consulting services for communities and organizations on cycling infrastructure, as well as professional and non-professional cycling training programs (mechanical training, cycling coaching certification in partnership with PMBIA).
7. Government grants and partnerships: Vélo Québec receives financial support from the Quebec government (Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Education, SAAQ, Ministry of Economy and Innovation), the Canadian government (Heritage Canada), municipalities (Ville de Montréal), and public bodies (Tourisme Montréal, ARTM). Grants support specific programs such as Cycliste averti (Action-Climat Québec funding, Plan pour une économie verte 2030).
8. Donations: Vélo Québec solicits donations through its website (Fécoeur program), supporting the organization's broader mission to develop cycling culture across Quebec.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vélo Québec is a non-profit cycling organization that develops and promotes cycling culture in Quebec through a diversified portfolio of mass-participation cycling events (Festival Go vélo Montréal featuring the Tour de l'Île de Montréal, Tour la Nuit, and Défi métropolitain; Petite Aventure and Grand Tour), cyclotourism travel packages via its Voyages subsidiary (70+ destinations), membership programs, educational and certification programs (Cycliste averti for schools, VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE for municipalities and campuses, Bienvenue cyclistes! for tourism operators), consulting and professional training services, and publications including Vélo Mag and Québec Science magazines. It also serves as the official coordinator of the 5,000+ km Route verte cycling network under mandate from the Quebec Ministry of Transport.

Product overview

Vélo Québec operates as a cycling advocacy organization with a diversified portfolio combining publications, events, programs, and travel services. The core offerings include Vélo Mag and Québec Science magazines published through Vélo Québec Éditions, major cycling events (Festival Go vélo Montréal with Tour de l'Île, Tour la Nuit, Défi métropolitain; Petite Aventure; Grand Tour), the Vélo Québec Voyages travel agency with 70+ destinations, VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE municipal certification program, Cycliste Averti school cycling education program, La Route verte cycling infrastructure coordination, and Bienvenue cyclistes! accommodation certification. The organization also provides consulting services, professional training, and operates the Observatoire du vélo (Bicycle Observatory) for cycling research. The portfolio spans event management, publication, education, certification, tourism, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Festival Go vélo Montréal: Annual cycling festival featuring the Tour de l'Île de Montréal, Tour la Nuit, Défi métropolitain, and conferences.
• Vélo Mag
• Québec Science
• Route verte
• VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE
• Cycliste averti
• Bienvenue cyclistes!
• L'Observatoire du vélo

Products and services

• Festival Go vélo Montréal
• Petite Aventure
• Grand Tour
• Vélo Québec Voyages
• Vélo Québec Memberships

Quantifiable outcome

• Festival Go vélo Montréal attracts 38,000+ cyclists annually across its activities.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Les Producteurs de lait du QuébecflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Les Producteurs de lait du Québec (Milk Producers of Quebec) serves as the presenting sponsor for the Festival Go vélo Montréal, Petite Aventure, and Grand Tour cyclotouristic events. This is a multi-year sponsorship arrangement that provides significant brand visibility and marketing reach for the dairy industry while supporting cycling culture in Quebec.
• Siboire MicrobrasseriecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Siboire Microbrewery is a partner of the Petite Aventure and Grand Tour cyclotouristic events, providing sponsorship and brand association with Vélo Québec's cycling events.
• Association des réseaux cyclables du Québec (ARCQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ARCQ and Vélo Québec jointly award the Prix Hommage to exceptional contributors to the Route verte cycling network. The two organizations collaborate on cycling network advocacy and promotion, notably for the Route verte's 30th anniversary.
• PMBIA (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Vélo Québec and PMBIA launched French-language Level 1 mountain bike instructor certification documents in Quebec in 2025, enabling Vélo Québec to offer PMBIA-certified instructor training in French for the first time.
• Secrétariat à la jeunesse (Quebec Secretariat for Youth)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024The Secrétariat à la jeunesse collaborated with Vélo Québec to launch the 'Mon campus à vélo' campaign in September 2024, encouraging bicycle use on Quebec university and college campuses.
• Sports ExpertscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sports Experts is an associated sponsor of the Festival Go vélo Montréal, providing brand visibility and potentially in-kind support for cycling events.
• BixicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Bixi, Montreal's public bicycle sharing system, is an associated sponsor of the Festival Go vélo Montréal, reflecting a natural synergy between Vélo Québec's events and urban cycling infrastructure.
• Ville de MontréalflagshipOthers · 1 January 2024The City of Montreal is both a financial supporter and the primary host venue for the Festival Go vélo Montréal, including the Tour de l'Île de Montréal and Tour la Nuit. The city provides funding for the event and manages the urban infrastructure that enables the events.
• Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024The ARTM is an associated sponsor of the Festival Go vélo Montréal, supporting sustainable transportation initiatives in the Greater Montreal metropolitan area.
• Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec (MTMDET)flagshipOthers · 1 January 2024Vélo Québec acts as the official coordinator for the development of the Route verte under a mandate agreement with the Quebec Ministry of Transport. This formal government partnership is the foundation of Vélo Québec's role in Quebec's cycling infrastructure planning.
• Tourisme MontréalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Tourisme Montréal is listed as a public partner supporting the Festival Go vélo Montréal, providing marketing and promotional support for the event.
• Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)coreOthers · 1 January 2023SAAQ provides financial support enabling the Cycliste averti school cycling education program, aligning with its road safety mandate.
• Ministère de l'Éducation du QuébeccoreOthers · 1 January 2023The Ministry of Education provides endorsement and financial support for the Cycliste averti program, facilitating its delivery in Quebec elementary schools.
• Mouvement DesjardinsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Desjardins has partnered with Vélo Québec since 2020 on the 'Une flotte de vélos pour mon école' initiative, providing financial support to donate 2 fleets of 15 bikes and helmets annually to schools participating in the Cycliste averti program. In 2023, the program was expanded to 4 fleets (60 bikes total) in 4 regions including Baie-Comeau, Magog, Montreal, and Sainte-Thérèse. Desjardins also serves as an associated sponsor of the Festival Go vélo Montréal.
• Conseil régional de l'environnement de Laval (CRE de Laval)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Vélo Québec and the CRE de Laval issued a joint press release in June 2018 calling on Laval city councilors to work together to preserve and continue improving the cycling network, particularly on boulevards Saint-Martin, Saint-Elzéar, and Dagenais.
• ENvironnement JouvenceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017ENvironnement Jouvence partnered with Vélo Québec to organize 'Vélo sous zéro,' the first winter cycling event Happening in February 2017, which attracted 500 enthusiastic cyclists.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCobya5WZCyM5NothXj4SBHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/VeloQuebec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/velo-quebec
• Instagraminstagram.com/veloquebec
• Xx.com/VeloQuebec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vélo Québec