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Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste Press Conference – It’s RACE FACE ON for 5th Edition

release by GPCQM

June 19, 2014 (Montréal, QC) – For the fifth year in a row, the élite riders of professional cycling will attack the daunting course on Mount Royal at the 2014 edition of the Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste on Sunday, September 14. More than 100,000 cycling fans from here and elsewhere flock to the race site each year for an up-close experience at this prestigious UCI WorldTour event.

Head table  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

Less than 100 days from now, a peloton of more than 150 élite cyclists from the ProTeam ranks, including an impressive list of headliners, will cross the Atlantic to tackle the Montréal course, renowned for its repeated climbs that create a cumulative elevation change worthy of the classic mountain stages of European multi-day races. Since the event was founded, the organizers have had the support of major public- and private-sector partners to help ensure its success.

Serge Arsenault  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

The Government of Canada, the Government of Québec as well as the City of Montréal provide support that is indispensable to the establishment and growth of this international-level sporting event. Québecor is delivering race coverage to millions of Québecers on its TVA and TVA Sports networks. Air Transat provides charter flights for the overseas transportation of the ProTeams and their extensive cargo.

Serge Fortin TVA Sports  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

Another key collaborator is Via Rail, which guarantees the timely transfer of riders, teams and equipment from the Québec City Grand Prix Cycliste, held on Friday, September 12. The means made available by these major partners have allowed the organizers to satisfy the demands of the most demanding stakeholders and ensure the Montréal race’s excellent all-around reputation within the international cycling community.

Anne Scott Ville de Candiac  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

New for the 5th Edition    
The Place des Amateurs (“Fans Square”), a festive stage blending musical ambience and live broadcast of the race, as well as the Challenge plein air WIXX, an outdoor obstacle-course challenge for kids aged 9 to 13 highlighting the fun of being active, will be added to the day-long festivities and attractions offered by the various exhibitors in Parc Jeanne-Mance.

Fans are invited to enjoy the exploits of the world’s top road racers at the Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste from a superb vantage point, as new stands will be set up on Parc Avenue across from the Start/Finish line. Accessible to everyone free of charge, they will provide an unbeatable view as the riders complete each of their 17 laps, including the explosive sprint to the finish!

Dimitrios Jim Beis Ville de Montreal  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

In addition, this year the organizers are pleased and proud to announce their support for the Université de Montréal IRIC. An ultramodern research hub and education centre in the heart of the Université de Montréal campus, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) was founded in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter the disease. Members of the public are invited to run or ride to beat cancer at the “IRIC Mount Royal Tour” on the morning of the Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste (for information and to register, visit here).

Joseph Adamo, Air Transat  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

Pro Teams and Canadian Content 
The race organizers are delighted that the UCI WorldTour ranks feature such a large number of riders from Québec and the rest of Canada, who could be lining up for the start of the race on September 14. This year, the ProTeams include Canadians Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Christian Meier and Svein Tuft (both with Orica GreenEdge). Representing Québec are Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale Pro Cycling), Hugo Houle (AG2R La Mondiale) and local favourite Antoine Duchesne (Europcar), who reached the top flight of world cycling in 2014.

(l-r) Antoine Duchesne, Lex Albrecht, Hugo Houle, Remi Pelletier-Roy, Sébastien Delorme  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

The organizers are also proud to invite Canada’s National Road Cycling Team as a wildcard entry. Since 2010, this initiative has provided a superb showcase for young Canadian racers. After four editions, the Québec City and Montréal GPs have gained a great reputation among the riders in the professional peloton, as evidenced by 2013’s high-quality roster, which included Chris Froome, Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador (all Tour de France winners) as well as Peter Sagan, the winner in Montréal, and Robert Gesink, the winner in Québec City. In addition, Portugal’s Rui Costa, the current wearer of the rainbow jersey as UCI Road World Champion, has been a regular at these races since 2010, and should feature once again this year.

Head table  ©  Pasquale Stalteri

About the Montreal Grand Prix
As one of only two UCI WorldTour races held in North America, the Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste contributes in large measure toward the achievement of one of the International Cycling Union’s primary objectives: the globalization of élite-level cycling. This race through the heart of Mount Royal is 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 Montréal Grand Prix Cycliste as well as its sister race, the Québec City Grand Prix Cycliste, since 2010. The following public- and private-sector partners provide vital support to the Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes: 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 and Via Rail. For more information: www.gpcqm.ca





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