Julian Alaphilippe heads up GP Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal 2019 start lists

With this collection of hitters ready to line up, we know we're in for fireworks

(Image credit: Luc Claessen)

Now in its tenth year, Canada's GP de Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal duo is an attractive proposition for riders looking to test their legs ahead of the UCI Road World Championships.

Featuring multiple laps of a hilly course and falling two weeks ahead of the Worlds, the shared start list for both events is jostling with star studded names to look out for.

Former winners Michael Matthews (Sunweb), Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) all adorn the start list.

Matthews won both events in 2018, and may look to shine after coming home from the Tour de France empty handed.

Sagan has also raised his hands in both events, Québec in 2016 and 2017 plus Montréal in 2013 - though he's been relatively quiet after returning from Paris with only the EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg on his record since July.

We can also expect Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) to be a marked man, following his wins at Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallonne - as well as his long stint yellow in France.

Of the British riders, Geraint Thomas will be building on form with the Yorkshire Time Trial a key goal, he'll be flanked by Ineos' Michal Kwiatkowski perhaps looking to finish the season on a high note.

Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) may also be hunting out a result following a less than ideal Tour campaign, and Innsbruck medalist Michael Woods (EF Education First) will be another rider to watch as he competes on home turf.

Friday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec comprises of 16 laps of a 12.6km circuit, with close to 3,000 metres of climbing thanks to the Côte de la Potasse and the Montée de la Fabrique before the 1km finale on the Grande Allée.

After a day's rest, Sunday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal rears its head with a 219.6km course which has been extended for 2019 with the addition of two more laps, bringing the total climb to 4,734 metres.

The 12.2km circuit winds through the Parc du Mont-Royal, featuring a trio of climbs: the Côte Camillien-Houde (1.8km at 8%), Côte de Polytechnique (780m at 6%) and Boulevard Mont Royal (800m at 4%) - with that final one rearing its head just 3km from the line.

GP de Québec vital statistics 

Friday September 13 
201.6km distance (16 laps of 12.6km)

2,976m total ascent - 186m per lap

Grand Prix de Montréal vital statistics

Sunday September 15

219.6km (19 laps of 12.2km)

4,734 total ascent - 214m per lap

GP de Québec and Grand Prix de Montréal 2019 start list

Team Sunweb

1 MATTHEWS Michael

2 VERVAEKE Louis

3 BAKELANTS Jan

4 HINDLEY Jai

5 HIRSCHI Marc

6 KÄMNA Lennard

7 FRÖHLINGER Johannes

Deceuninck - Quick Step

11 ALAPHILIPPE Julian

12 ASGREEN Kasper

13 DEVENYNS Dries

14 EVENEPOEL Remco

15 HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich

16 MAS Enric

17 SERRY Pieter

Bora-Hansgrohe

21 SAGAN Peter

22 BENEDETTI Cesare

23 BURGHARDT Marcus

24 KONRAD Patrick

25 MCCARTHY Jay

26 OSS Daniel

27 PFINGSTEN Christoph

CCC Team

31 VAN AVERMAET Greg

32 ČERNÝ Josef

33 GESCHKE Simon

34 PAUWELS Serge

35 ROSSKOPF Joey

36 SCHÄR Michael

37 WIŚNIOWSKI Łukasz

AG2R La Mondiale

41 NAESEN Oliver

42 COSNEFROY Benoît

43 DUVAL Julien

44 FRANK Mathias

45 GOUGEARD Alexis

46 PARET-PEINTRE Aurélien

47 PETERS Nans

Bahrain Merida

51 NIBALI Vincenzo

52 AGNOLI Valerio

53 BOLE Grega

54 CARUSO Damiano

55 COLBRELLI Sonny

56 GARCÍA CORTINA Iván

57 MOHORIČ Matej

Team Ineos

61 THOMAS Geraint

62 BASSO Leonardo

63 KNEES Christian

64 KWIATKOWSKI Michał

65 LAWLESS Chris

66 HALVORSEN Kristoffer

67 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan

UAE-Team Emirates

71 ULISSI Diego

72 BYSTRØM Sven Erik

73 COSTA Rui

74 MARTIN Dan

75 OLIVEIRA Rui

76 PHILIPSEN Jasper

77 POLANC Jan

Astana Pro Team

81 HOULE Hugo

82 BILBAO Pello

83 BALLERINI Davide

84 ZEITS Andrey

85 CORT Magnus

86 VILLELLA Davide

87 GREGAARD Jonas

Lotto Soudal

91 WELLENS Tim

92 DEWULF Stan

93 NAESEN Lawrence

94 MAES Nikolas

95 MONFORT Maxime

96 VANENDERT Jelle

Groupama - FDJ

101 DUCHESNE Antoine

102 GENIETS Kevin

103 LE GAC Olivier

104 MADOUAS Valentin

105 MOLARD Rudy

106 BONNET William

107 ROUX Anthony

EF Education First

111 WOODS Michael

112 VAN DEN BERG Julius

113 BETTIOL Alberto

114 BROWN Nathan

115 HOWES Alex

116 VANMARCKE Sep

117 WHELAN James

Team Jumbo-Visma

121 VAN POPPEL Danny

122 DE PLUS Laurens

123 LEEZER Tom

124 MARTENS Paul

125 VINGEGAARD Jonas

126 ROOSEN Timo

127 TOLHOEK Antwan

Trek - Segafredo

131 PORTE Richie

132 CONCI Nicola

133 BERNARD Julien

134 GOGL Michael

135 MOLLEMA Bauke

136 SKUJIŅŠ Toms

137 STUYVEN Jasper

Movistar Team

141 BETANCUR Carlos

142 CASTRILLO Jaime

143 FERNÁNDEZ Rubén

144 MAS Lluís

145 PRADES Eduard

146 ROELANDTS Jürgen

147 SÜTTERLIN Jasha

Mitchelton-Scott

151 YATES Adam

152 BOOKWALTER Brent

153 HAIG Jack

154 HAMILTON Lucas

155 IMPEY Daryl

156 JUUL-JENSEN Christopher

157 STANNARD Robert

Team Katusha Alpecin

161 HAAS Nathan

162 BIERMANS Jenthe

163 GONÇALVES José

164 HALLER Marco

165 HOLLENSTEIN Reto

166 ZABEL Rick

167 ŠPILAK Simon

Team Dimension Data

171 GASPAROTTO Enrico

172 GIBBONS Ryan

173 VALGREN Michael

174 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt

175 KREUZIGER Roman

176 MÄDER Gino

177 SLAGTER Tom-Jelte

Israel Cycling Academy

181 BOIVIN Guillaume

182 CATAFORD Alexander

183 EARLE Nathan

184 JENSEN August

185 NEILANDS Krists

186 SAGIV Guy

187 SBARAGLI Kristian

Rally UHC Cycling

191 TUFT Svein

192 ANDERSON Ryan

193 BRITTON Rob

194 MANNION Gavin

195 DAL-CIN Matteo

196 DE VOS Adam

197 ELLSAY Nigel

Canada

201 PICCOLI James

202 BURTNIK Evan

203 CHEYNE Jordan

204 CHRÉTIEN Charles-Étienne

205 GERVAIS Laurent

206 ROBERGE Adam

207 ZUKOWSKY Nicolas

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.