Hugo Houle chosen for Ag2r-La Mondiale’s Giro d’Italia squad

Hugo Houle has been tapped to ride the Giro d’Italia reports La Presse.

“It is confirmed. I’m going well and have done well. But until I’m on the start line, nothing is certain,” he told the Quebec media outlet.

The rider from Sainte-Perpétue, Que., has had a strong season so far. At the Tour de San Luis he placed third in the final time trial. He also had a good showing at Classic Loire Atlantique, in which he was in the breakaway. His teammate, Alexis Gougeard, won that race on March 21. “I knew that if I failed, Hugo Houle was able to win,” said Gougeard of his Quebec teammate. On Wednesday, Houle finished Dwars door Vlaanderen in the 28th spot.

Houle joined the WorldTour team in 2013 after the collapse of Canada’s SpiderTech team. Since then, a Grand Tour has always been a goal of his.

“It’s a great sign of confidence from the team. I’m very happy,” he said about the team’s Giro plan. “However, I can’t hide the fact that I would have been very disappointed if I hadn’t been part of the Giro this year.” Houle will working for the French squad’s GC hopefuls, Domenico Pozzovivo, who was fifth at the 2014 Giro, and Carlos Betancur.

During the upcoming Spring Classics, Houle will be working for Johan Vansummeren, who won Paris-Roubaix in 2011. Houle is not only hoping to learn from the 34-year-old Belgian, but also be there for his teammate into the late stages of the races. Houle will be at Friday’s E3 Harelbeke and Sunday’s Gent-Wevelgem.

As a Quebecer on a predominately French team, Houle has picked up the nickname the “Canadian Lumberjack” mostly because of his beard. “It’s like a playoff beard, but for the Classics. It makes me more intimidating in the bunch,” Houle joked.

The Giro d’Italia starts May 9.