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Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal: Preview

Ryan Roth
Ryan Roth. Photo credit: Bruce MacNeil

On September 12 many of the world’s top cyclists will start the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, the first of only two WorldTour races in North America. The second of the two WorldTour races will be in Montreal on Sunday.

In the last five years the UCI has publicly stated that they are trying to increase the global presence of cycling. The growing prestige of both races in Montréal and Québec demonstrates that Canada is a key facet of the UCI’s efforts. With three other high level UCI stage races in North America in the preceding weeks, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal now attracts not only the highest calibre teams but many of the World’s top riders are specifically targeting these World Tour races on an annual basis.

Friday’s race in Québec City will feature a course that is infamous to the riders racing it while also eliciting aggressive, fast racing that spectators love. Riders will complete 11 laps of the 18-km circuit. In the past, the pivotal climb as been located just before the start-finish with average gradients that vary as riders wind through Old Québec City. The final straight to the finish line along the Grande Allée has always been the backdrop of an exciting sprint finish. Last year’s winner, Robert Gesink (Team Belkin) will not take the start, however he won in an uphill from a select group of riders.

Sunday’s race in Montréal features a slightly different course and is also well-suited for rouleurs. With the Côte Camilien-Houde in the middle of the circuit, which riders will have to complete 17-times, it’s likely the winner will either finish solo, as Peter Sagan (Cannondale) did last year when he won, or the finish will feature a smaller sprint of a select group. On Sunday riders will race a total of 200-km.

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) was the top placed Canadian in Montreal last year but will not take part in either race this year as he is currently racing the Vuelta a Espana. Hugo Houle (Team AG2R), Antoine Duchesne (Team Europecar) and Christian Meier (Orica-Green Edge) will be Canada’s top favourites racing for their respective WorldTour teams. Ryan Anderson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) will undoubtedly be in the mix after his second place finish at the Tour of Alberta on the final stage. Anderson also finished fifth overall as the top Canadian in the race. Team Canada will also take the start led by Bruno Langlois and Ryan Roth, who have both featured in the finale in Québec City in the past. Roth finished 23rd in Quebec City while wearing the national champion’s jersey in 2012 while Langlois finished 30th.

After a strong showing in at the Tour of Alberta for many of the Canadians racing this weekend, it’s likely we’ll see them in the early break-aways and in the finale of both WorldTour races.
Friday’s race in Quebec City is scheduled to start at 11am, while Sunday’s race in Montreal will also begin at 11am. Full details on the course and related events can be found at GPCQM.

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