Seven Canadian teams to start 2018 Tour de Beauce

The teams that will participate in the 2018 Tour de Beauce were announced on Tuesday. The five-stage race begins on June 13 in Saint-George, Que. The startlist is highlighted by American UCI pro continental teams Rally Cycling, Holowesko-Citadel, UnitedHealthcare and Hagens Bergen Axeon.

Holowesko-Citadel brings Latvian Andzs Flaksis who is the defending champion from 2017. Additionally, Robin Carpenter, the 2017 winner of two stages of the Tour of California and the overall at the Tour of Alberta, will look to build off his third-place finish from last year. American team Jelly Belly and Team Inteja from the Dominican Republic are also strong teams contesting the Tour de Beauce this year.

Eight Canadian teams will start the 2018 edition. The Quebec Provincial Team and the Canadian National Team will each line-up in Saint-George. UCI continental teams Silber Pro Cycling and Pobalac-Devinci will contest the race as well as development team Team NCCH, and amateur teams Applewood Garneau, Ride with Rendall and VeloSelect-Apogee.

While the full team rosters are yet to be announced, veteran Bruno Langlois racing his 20th career Tour de Beauce has been pegged to lead a young development squad for the Quebec Provincial Team with local Guillaume Davidson of Saint-Georges also selected.

The Tour de Beauce starts with a 177-km stage. Stage 2 will begin to shape the general classification battle as the riders will tackle the ascent of Mont-Mégantic. Stage 3A is a 20-km individual time trial in Saint-Prosper with Stage 3B being only 77-km but featuring the explosive ascent of Notre-Dame-des-Pins at the finish.

A 35 lap crit in Quebec City follows on Stage 4 with the start/finish area on the Grande Allée in the old town. The final stage will be contested on a 10-km circuit race in Saint George where the GC was drastically shaken up in 2017.