Matthews, Uran, Wellens, Hesjedal, Duchesne and Houle to race the 2016 Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes

LONGUEUIL, QC, Aug. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - The Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes (GPCQM) are now well established as one-day classics on city circuits. The top riders on the planet have been making the trip across the Atlantic to tackle the pair of challenging courses in Quebec's largest city as well as its capital since 2010. Seven successful editions later, Serge Arsenault and his team are proud of the global presence they have developed, and determined to continue presenting this now-traditional North American stop on the international road racing calendar. On September 9 and 11, 168 of the best cyclists on the WorldTour circuit will deliver a sports spectacle of the highest calibre.

The news from the peloton is that fans can expect the return of the defending GPCQM champions, Rigoberto Uran (CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM) and Tim Wellens (LOTTO SOUDAL), as well as a Tour de France stage winner Michael Matthews (ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE). Also set to compete are Québécois riders Antoine Duchesne (DIRECT ENERGIE) and Hugo Houle (AG2R LA MONDIALE) and, in what may be the final races of his career, Canada's Ryder Hesjedal (TREK–SEGAFREDO).

WHAT RIDERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE GPCQM...

"GPCQM week has become an essential moment in the season for the WorldTeams who, year after year, go all out to provide us with unforgettable sporting exploits," says Marcel Leblanc, Executive Vice-President, GPCQM. "In a short time, we've grown our reputation on the world stage. The riders have always told us that they love coming to Québec for the quality of our courses, the thorough, attentive organization, the novelty of racing outside Europe, and the warm welcome from the public."

Some riders' impressions of the GPCQM:

SIMON GERRANS of ORICA-BikeExchange says: "Québec City and Montréal are fantastic races; they're both challenging and spectacular, perfectly organized, and with huge, enthusiastic crowds. Both races have been important in my career. I have three wins and, most memorably, I managed the Québec City–Montréal double the same year, 2014. That was a dream week. Every time I ride these races, I'm just so pleased to be there and competing hard in these beautiful cities." Gerrans also won the Québec City GP in 2012.

"The Québec City and Montréal GPs are my favourite races," notes ANTOINE DUCHESNE of Direct Energie. "They are where I understood that I had the ambition to compete with the best cyclists in the world. I'm ecstatic about being entered in these events, and proud to have been one of the first Quebecers to ride the Tour de France."

"The atmosphere you find at the GPCQM is very special when you come over from Europe and you have to travel long hours, arriving only a few days before the races. Because of that, you feel the tension rising until it's finally race day!" explains ROBERT GESINK of Team LottoNL-Jumbo. "My wins in Québec City and Montréal are two of the most special memories in my career," he adds. "To win a one-day classic had always been a dream of mine, and it became a reality in Montréal in 2010. My second victory, in Québec City in 2013, was even more special because my family was there with me. The emotions were overwhelming; I was the happiest man in the world that day!"

For HUGO HOULE of AG2R La Mondiale, "The Québec City and Montréal GPs are kind of like the World Championships for riders from Québec. We're happy to race here at home every year, in a UCI WorldTour event alongside the world's élite cyclists. The guys in the pro peloton say that the GPCQM are among the best-organized races in the world. That's a great source of pride for us, and an impetus to put in great performances."

THE GPCQM SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

THE TEAMS
The GPCQM will feature the 18 WorldTeams in addition to Team Canada (thanks to special dispensation requested from the UCI since the very first edition of the races) and two Professional Continental teams, Bora-Argon 18 (Germany) and Direct Energie (France).

SCHEDULE
The event program will be enhanced by a series of media activities to be announced before race week.

• Tuesday, September 6 (3 p.m.): WorldTeams arrive at Jean-Lesage International Airport, Québec City
• Friday, September 9 (11 a.m.): Start of the Québec City Grand Prix Course
• Saturday, September 10 (noon): WorldTeams arrive at Delta Montréal hotel
  • (3:30 p.m.): Critérium National de Montréal – Men's Élite
  • (4:15 p.m.): Critérium National de Montréal – Women's Junior, U-23 and Élite
  • (5 p.m.): Critérium National de Montréal – Men's Junior and U-23
• Sunday, September 11 (11 a.m.): Start of the Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste Course

Members of the public are invited to enjoy the events up close, free of charge, in the viewing stands located at the Start/Finish lines, and follow the action live on giant screens in the Fans' Village, where there will also be plenty of festive activities for all, free of charge. Fans can also catch all the action on the TVA Sports network, which will broadcast both GPCQM races from start to finish on Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Follow the GPCQM on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and www.gpcqm.ca for regularly updated exclusive content.

THE GPCQM EXPERTS TALK CYCLING...

The GPCQM team relies on a network of experts and contributors who are available during race week as well as throughout the WorldTour season to collaborate with media outlets interested in covering a variety of subjects:

ABOUT THE GPCQM
The Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, the only two spots on the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour in America, contribute to fulfilling one of the primary objectives of the UCI: the globalization of élite cycling. These tour stops are in addition to the existing, officially sanctioned events in Europe and Oceania. Since 2010, the organization has been responsible for the planning and the conduct of the GPCQM and counts on the invaluable support of public and private partners: the Government of Canada, the Gouvernement du Québec, the city of Québec, the city of Montréal, the National Battlefields Commission, Québec City Tourism, Tourisme Montréal, Québecor, Air Transat, and TVA Sports (official GPCQM broadcaster).

ABOUT THE UCI
The International Cycling Union (UCI) is the international federation of cycling, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (ICO). The UCI oversees the worldwide management and promotion of the eight disciplines of cycling.

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SOURCE Événement GPCQM

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