July 21, 2012 (Montreal, QC) – The Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes (GPCQM) announced on Friday that Canadian Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Sharp, the winner of the 2012 Tour of Italy, will compete.

“I love competing all over the world, but there is something extra special about racing at home,” Hesjedal said. “I look forward to these races all year and am proud and excited to compete at home in Canada.” Hesjedal’s victory in the Tour of Italy was the best result ever by a Canadian rider at a Grand Tour event.

The Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes, which are the only UCI WorldTour races in North America, and have been a special moment of the season for him since their inception.

At the initial running of the Grands Prix Cyclistes in 2010, Hesjedal came fourth in Québec City and followed that up with a podium finish in Montréal, crossing the line in third place. The team lineups for this year’s GPCQM races will be unveiled the week of August 20.

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