Few races outside of the Grand Tours and the Monuments can boast startlists as strong as the Grands Prix de Québec and Montréal, but that adds to the excitement of what lies ahead on Friday and Sunday for the NSN Cycling Team.
“There’s always a strong field at these two races, but given the upcoming Worlds in Canada, I think we’ll see an even stronger startlist this year,” says Sports Director Alex Cataford.
“Teams are really bringing their A game here to Canada – we’ll see some hard and aggressive racing for sure.”
Corbin Strong, runner-up in Québec in 2023, features in the team’s line-up, which also includes home riders Guillaume Boivin and Pier-André Côté. Riley Sheehan, who finished fourth in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic on his most recent day of racing, will also be in action.
Cataford adds: “I think our bigger goals are in Québec City – we’re really going there for a result. In Montréal, we’re looking to fight to see if we can get the guys into a good position and see how the race plays out from there.”
Strong was involved in a mass pile-up on stage two of the Renewi Tour on 20 August, but returns to racing in Canada having made a good and timely recovery.
“I’m really happy to be back racing here,” says Strong. “I’m still in good shape, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and racing with the guys.
“Québec is definitely much harder now than it was when I finished on the podium. It’s a really beautiful course – it’s open and hard to control and judge – but I think we’ve got good guys here.”
Completing the rosters for both races are Alessandro Pinarello and Dion Smith, who impressed last week in support of teammate Lewis Askey at the Tour of Britain, and Nadav Raisberg. Pinarello and Raisberg have never previously competed in the races.
NSN Cycling Team at Grands Prix de Québec and Montréal (Friday 11 September and Sunday 13 September)
Riders: Guillaume Boivin (CAN), Pier-Andre Côté (CAN), Alessandro Pinarello (ITA), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Riley Sheehan (USA), Dion Smith (NZL), Corbin Strong (NZL)
Sports Directors: Alex Cataford (CAN), Steve Bauer (CAN)