NATIONAL TEAM SENDS SEVEN ATHLETES TO GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES

Ottawa, ON (Sept. 7, 2023) – Cycling Canada has announced a team of seven riders for the 2023 Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM) on Sept. 8 (Quebec City, QC) and Sept. 10 (Montreal, QC).

Pier-André Côté, Nicholas Rivard and Quentin Cowan will line up for the second year in a row after successful participation in the 2022 edition. Fresh off the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, Côté and Benjamin Perry will look to better their performances. They will be joined by Quebec riders Matisse Julien, Felix Hamel and Robin Plamondon.

“We’re excited to again field a development team at the GPCQM, North America’s premier professional men’s road race,” said Nigel Ellsay, National Team Coach (Road Lead). “We have a diverse group of athletes. 19-year-old Felix, who last year raced with us at Junior Worlds, and his Ecoflo teammate, 20-year-old Matisse, will look to learn alongside veteran Ben and his Human Powered Health teammate, Pan American Champion Pier-André Coté. GPCQM is a unique opportunity for Canadian men to try new things, make mistakes and gamble at the highest level of the sport. As a coach, I’m really looking forward to seeing how they respond to this new challenge.”

Several Canadians will also be contesting GPCQM with their professional team: Guillaume Boivin, Derek Gee, Hugo Houle and Michael Woods will be attending with Israel Premier-Tech.

Woods will also take the opportunity to auction off his team kit worn during his Tour de France Stage 9 win in support of Cycling Canada’s HopOn program, helping more kids discover the joy of cycling.

Racing will start on Friday, Sept. 8 in Québec City and will continue Sunday, Sept. 10 in Montréal. For more details, click here.

Team Canada

Pier-André Côté – Lévis, QC
Quentin Cowan – Calgary, AB
Félix Hamel – Sainte-Julie, QC
Matisse Julien – Laval, QC
Benjamin Perry – St. Catharines, ON
Robin Plamondon – Montréal, QC
Nicholas Rivard – Bois-des-Fillions, QC