Julian Alaphilippe heads up GP Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal 2019 start lists
With this collection of hitters ready to line up, we know we're in for fireworks
Now in its tenth year, Canada's GP de Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal duo is an attractive proposition for riders looking to test their legs ahead of the UCI Road World Championships.
Featuring multiple laps of a hilly course and falling two weeks ahead of the Worlds, the shared start list for both events is jostling with star studded names to look out for.
Former winners Michael Matthews (Sunweb), Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) all adorn the start list.
Matthews won both events in 2018, and may look to shine after coming home from the Tour de France empty handed.
Sagan has also raised his hands in both events, Québec in 2016 and 2017 plus Montréal in 2013 - though he's been relatively quiet after returning from Paris with only the EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg on his record since July.
We can also expect Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) to be a marked man, following his wins at Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallonne - as well as his long stint yellow in France.
Of the British riders, Geraint Thomas will be building on form with the Yorkshire Time Trial a key goal, he'll be flanked by Ineos' Michal Kwiatkowski perhaps looking to finish the season on a high note.
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Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) may also be hunting out a result following a less than ideal Tour campaign, and Innsbruck medalist Michael Woods (EF Education First) will be another rider to watch as he competes on home turf.
Friday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec comprises of 16 laps of a 12.6km circuit, with close to 3,000 metres of climbing thanks to the Côte de la Potasse and the Montée de la Fabrique before the 1km finale on the Grande Allée.
After a day's rest, Sunday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal rears its head with a 219.6km course which has been extended for 2019 with the addition of two more laps, bringing the total climb to 4,734 metres.
The 12.2km circuit winds through the Parc du Mont-Royal, featuring a trio of climbs: the Côte Camillien-Houde (1.8km at 8%), Côte de Polytechnique (780m at 6%) and Boulevard Mont Royal (800m at 4%) - with that final one rearing its head just 3km from the line.
GP de Québec vital statistics
Friday September 13
201.6km distance (16 laps of 12.6km)
2,976m total ascent - 186m per lap
Grand Prix de Montréal vital statistics
Sunday September 15
219.6km (19 laps of 12.2km)
4,734 total ascent - 214m per lap
GP de Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal 2019 start list
Team Sunweb
1 MATTHEWS Michael
2 VERVAEKE Louis
3 BAKELANTS Jan
4 HINDLEY Jai
5 HIRSCHI Marc
6 KÄMNA Lennard
7 FRÖHLINGER Johannes
Deceuninck - Quick Step
11 ALAPHILIPPE Julian
12 ASGREEN Kasper
13 DEVENYNS Dries
14 EVENEPOEL Remco
15 HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
16 MAS Enric
17 SERRY Pieter
Bora-Hansgrohe
21 SAGAN Peter
22 BENEDETTI Cesare
23 BURGHARDT Marcus
24 KONRAD Patrick
25 MCCARTHY Jay
26 OSS Daniel
27 PFINGSTEN Christoph
CCC Team
31 VAN AVERMAET Greg
32 ČERNÝ Josef
33 GESCHKE Simon
34 PAUWELS Serge
35 ROSSKOPF Joey
36 SCHÄR Michael
37 WIŚNIOWSKI Łukasz
AG2R La Mondiale
41 NAESEN Oliver
42 COSNEFROY Benoît
43 DUVAL Julien
44 FRANK Mathias
45 GOUGEARD Alexis
46 PARET-PEINTRE Aurélien
47 PETERS Nans
Bahrain Merida
51 NIBALI Vincenzo
52 AGNOLI Valerio
53 BOLE Grega
54 CARUSO Damiano
55 COLBRELLI Sonny
56 GARCÍA CORTINA Iván
57 MOHORIČ Matej
Team Ineos
61 THOMAS Geraint
62 BASSO Leonardo
63 KNEES Christian
64 KWIATKOWSKI Michał
65 LAWLESS Chris
66 HALVORSEN Kristoffer
67 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan
UAE-Team Emirates
71 ULISSI Diego
72 BYSTRØM Sven Erik
73 COSTA Rui
74 MARTIN Dan
75 OLIVEIRA Rui
76 PHILIPSEN Jasper
77 POLANC Jan
Astana Pro Team
81 HOULE Hugo
82 BILBAO Pello
83 BALLERINI Davide
84 ZEITS Andrey
85 CORT Magnus
86 VILLELLA Davide
87 GREGAARD Jonas
Lotto Soudal
91 WELLENS Tim
92 DEWULF Stan
93 NAESEN Lawrence
94 MAES Nikolas
95 MONFORT Maxime
96 VANENDERT Jelle
Groupama - FDJ
101 DUCHESNE Antoine
102 GENIETS Kevin
103 LE GAC Olivier
104 MADOUAS Valentin
105 MOLARD Rudy
106 BONNET William
107 ROUX Anthony
EF Education First
111 WOODS Michael
112 VAN DEN BERG Julius
113 BETTIOL Alberto
114 BROWN Nathan
115 HOWES Alex
116 VANMARCKE Sep
117 WHELAN James
Team Jumbo-Visma
121 VAN POPPEL Danny
122 DE PLUS Laurens
123 LEEZER Tom
124 MARTENS Paul
125 VINGEGAARD Jonas
126 ROOSEN Timo
127 TOLHOEK Antwan
Trek - Segafredo
131 PORTE Richie
132 CONCI Nicola
133 BERNARD Julien
134 GOGL Michael
135 MOLLEMA Bauke
136 SKUJIŅŠ Toms
137 STUYVEN Jasper
Movistar Team
141 BETANCUR Carlos
142 CASTRILLO Jaime
143 FERNÁNDEZ Rubén
144 MAS Lluís
145 PRADES Eduard
146 ROELANDTS Jürgen
147 SÜTTERLIN Jasha
Mitchelton-Scott
151 YATES Adam
152 BOOKWALTER Brent
153 HAIG Jack
154 HAMILTON Lucas
155 IMPEY Daryl
156 JUUL-JENSEN Christopher
157 STANNARD Robert
Team Katusha Alpecin
161 HAAS Nathan
162 BIERMANS Jenthe
163 GONÇALVES José
164 HALLER Marco
165 HOLLENSTEIN Reto
166 ZABEL Rick
167 ŠPILAK Simon
Team Dimension Data
171 GASPAROTTO Enrico
172 GIBBONS Ryan
173 VALGREN Michael
174 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt
175 KREUZIGER Roman
176 MÄDER Gino
177 SLAGTER Tom-Jelte
Israel Cycling Academy
181 BOIVIN Guillaume
182 CATAFORD Alexander
183 EARLE Nathan
184 JENSEN August
185 NEILANDS Krists
186 SAGIV Guy
187 SBARAGLI Kristian
Rally UHC Cycling
191 TUFT Svein
192 ANDERSON Ryan
193 BRITTON Rob
194 MANNION Gavin
195 DAL-CIN Matteo
196 DE VOS Adam
197 ELLSAY Nigel
Canada
201 PICCOLI James
202 BURTNIK Evan
203 CHEYNE Jordan
204 CHRÉTIEN Charles-Étienne
205 GERVAIS Laurent
206 ROBERGE Adam
207 ZUKOWSKY Nicolas
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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.
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