Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) has put his name forward as one of the top favourites for this year's UCI World Championship road race after winning both Canadian WorldTour races over the weekend.
Gerrans won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday and repeated the feat on Sunday with victory in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal - the 34 year old from Melbourne becomes the first rider to win both.
It's some consolation for Gerrans, who was one of several key riders to withdraw from the Tour de France in July with crash injury.
"I have worked pretty hard after the Tour de France and just tried to maintain things for the last few weeks leading into these races," Gerrans said. "Hopefully I still have a little bit to find before the World Championships in a couple of weeks."
Current national road race champion Gerrans will be part of a strong Australian team at the 2014 World Champs in Ponferrada, Spain, on September 28. Simon Clarke, Rohan Dennis, Cadel Evans, Adam Hansen, Heinrich Haussler, Matt Hayman, Michael Matthews and Rory Sutherland complete the squad for the elite men's road race.
With victories in the Tour Down Under and Liege-Bastogne-Liege earlier in the season, Gerrans has consolidated his third place in the 2014 UCI WorldTour ranking behind Vuelta a Espana champion Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
Results
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal (Sunday, September 14)
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge in 5-24-27
2. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
3. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol
4. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Sharp
5. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale
6. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano
7. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing
8. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin
9. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana
10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin all same time
Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec (Friday, September 12)
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge in 4-42-54
2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano
3. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Sharp
4. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
5. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing
6. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
7. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin
8. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana
9. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol
10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin all same time
Andrew Talansky blames Simon Gerrans for Tour de France crash
Andrew Talansky and Simon Gerrans clash during finale of Tour de France stage seven
Simon Gerrans takes first blood at the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under 2014, stage one: Andre Greipel pipped on the line by home favourite Simon Gerrans
Simon Gerrans wins Australian road race title
Simon Gerrans takes Australian road race national championship win ahead of Cadel Evans and Richie Porte
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