TEAM CANADA ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR THE QUÉBEC CITY AND MONTRÉAL GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES
Steve Bauer to manage national squad at WorldTour events
(Ottawa, ON – August 25, 2014) In September 2010, the world’s best cyclists converged onto Canadian soil for the Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes (GPCQM); the first ever stop of the UCI WorldTour race series in the Americas. Five years later, the event continues to attract the best cyclists in the world while giving Canada’s top riders an opportunity to show their talent in front of home crowds. Cycling Canada has selected a strong lineup of professional road cyclists for the fifth edition of the GPCQM and the canadian cycling icon Steve Bauer will be the manager.
Bauer was Canada’s first ever men’s Olympic road cycling medalist, a three-time Canadian Road Champion and an 11-time participant in the Tour de France (wearing the yellow jersey for 14 days).
“I am keen to return to the GPCQM to direct the Canadian National Road Team,” said Steve Bauer. “I look forward to work with the athletes I have previously directed and see how they have progressed as well as mentoring our younger men that will have their first experience in WorldTour competition. These fall classics are the best opportunities for them gauge their talent against the best pros in the world on challenging world championship level race courses.”
The team includes some of Canada’s top cyclists from pro-continental and continental teams, notably Ryan Anderson (Vancouver, BC) of Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies and former Canadian Champion Ryan Roth (Cambridge, ON) of Team Silber Pro Cycling. Anderson and Roth both raced the 2013 edition of the GPCQM.
Climbing specialist Michael Woods (Ottawa, ON) of Team 5-Hr Energy, who had some impressive results at the Tour de Beauce this year, will be racing his first WorldTour race. Also of Team 5-hr Energy, Bruno Langlois (Québec, QC), will be racing in front of his family and friends in Québec City. In 2012, Langlois took the King of the Mountain jersey at the Québec City Grand Prix Cycliste racing with the Canadian National Team.
Set to perform in front of his hometown fans, sprinter Pierrick Naud (Québec, QC) of Team Garneau-Quebecor will be looking to impress. The 2013 Canadian criterium Champion excelled in the inaugural Grand Prix de Saguenay in the spring. Multiple Canada Games medalist Matteo Dal-Cin (Ottawa, ON), of Team Silber Pro Cycling, will be racing his first WorldTour race. After spending a week at the Tour of Alberta with the Canadian National Team, both Garrett McLeod (Wolfville, NS) and Canadian U23 Champion Benjamin Perry (St. Catharines, ON) will also partake in the GPCQM.
THE QUÉBEC CITY AND MONTRÉAL GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES: THE FIFTH EDITION
Even today, the GPCQM remain the only two events on the American continent on the UCI WorldTour calendar. The arrival of the GPCQM certainly contributed to the globalisation of the discipline, in addition to being an exceptional showcase opportunity for riders at home.
“The organization is very proud to have extended an invitation to the Canadian National Team since 2010 and to have contributed to the rise of Canadian cyclists on professional Teams. Since its inception, the GPCQM have also been quick to attract the world’s elite for whom the GPCQM week has become a must,” said Marcel Leblanc, Executive Vice President of GPCQM.
The organization also announced last week that Jean-Christophe Péraud (2nd in the 2014 Tour de France, currently fifth in the UCI WorldTour) was listed on the official entry form from ProTeam AG2R La Mondiale for its events. The organization will unveil other headliners in the coming days.
TEAM CANADA – 2014 QUÉBEC CITY AND MONTRÉAL GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES
Ryan ANDERSON (Vancouver, BC) [Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies]
Matteo DAL-CIN (Ottawa, ON) [Silber Pro Cycling]
Bruno LANGLOIS (Quebec, QC) [5-hr Energy]
Garrett MCLEOD (Wolfville, NS) [Team H&R Block]
Pierrick NAUD (Quebec, QC) [Garneau-Quebecor]
Benjamin PERRY (St. Catharines, ON) [Team NCCH p/b DEC Express]
Ryan ROTH (Cambridge, ON) [Silber Pro Cycling]
Mike WOODS (Ottawa, ON) [5-hr Energy]
ABOUT CYCLING CANADA
Cycling Canada is the governing body for competitive cycling in Canada. Founded in 1882, the Cycling Canada aims to create and sustain an effective system that develops talented Canadian cyclists to achieve Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medal performances. With the vision of being a leading competitive cycling nation by 2020 celebrating enhanced international success, increased national participation and world class event hosting, Cycling Canada manages the High Performance team, hosts national and international events, and administers community programs to promote Cycling in Canada. For more information, please visit: cyclingcanada.ca
ABOUT THE QUEBEC CITY AND MONTREAL GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTE
As the only two UCI WorldTour races held in North America, the GPCQM contribute in large measure toward the achievement of one of the International Cycling Union’s primary objectives: the globalization of elite-level cycling. The GPCQM are now an established, UCI-sanctioned event alongside events in Europe, Oceania and Asia. The organizing committee has been responsible for planning and putting on the GPCQM since 2010. The following public- and private-sector partners provide vital support to the GPCQM: the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, the City of Québec, the City of Montréal, the National Battlefields Commission, the Office du tourisme de Québec, Tourisme Montréal, Québecor, Air Transat, Via Rail and Québec Original. For more information: www.gpcqm.ca
