Nat Bromhead
Twenty one teams and some of the world’s top cycling talent will be on display in North America this weekend with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal taking place on Friday and Sunday in Canada.
Aussie outfit Orica-Bike Exchange have assembled a solid line up and hope to continue their strong success at the events famously won by Simon Gerrans. Gerro backed up to win both races in 2014 – the only rider to ever have done so.
With Gerro racing la Vuelta in Spain Michael Matthews is designated team leader for the Quebec race on Friday – it’s a hilly 201km course that includes 2900m of climbing.
The 204km Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal on Sunday includes seventeen laps of the 12km circuit and a total of 3900 vertical metres.
OBE Sport Director Laurenzo Lapage is pleased with the team and expects a strong result.
“Due to the strength in depth and the versatility of the squad we can set ourselves realistically high objectives for both races and aim to build on our good results here in the past,” he said.
“Michael Matthews will be our number one for Quebec and Adam Yates for the hillier Montreal. We have high hopes for both races and with this line up we have options for different eventualities.”
Lapage said both races are fast, criterium style circuit races with tough parcours.
“Quebec has four small climbs to negotiate on every lap whereas Montreal has three on the slopes around the Mount Royal,” he said.
“For sure both races will be tough, but we have a well prepared squad. We are highly motivated to achieve a good result here.”
31-year-old Canadian Christian Meier, who has ridden with OBE since its inception and recently announced his 2017 retirement from professional bike racing, is part of the team’s eight-man squad for both races.
ORICA-BikeExchange at GP Cicliste de Quebec and Montreal team:
Michael Matthews (Leader Quebec)
Adam Yates (Leader Montreal)
Christian Meier
Michael Albasini
Luke Durbridge
Mathew Hayman
Daryl Impey
Chris Juul-Jensen
