Kwiatkowski, Kristoff, Yates and Hesjedal confirmed for GP Quebec and Montreal

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World champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The organisers of the Québec and Montréal Gran Prix Cycliste WorldTour races have attracted a star-studded line-up for the sixth edition of the Canadian races, announcing that the 168-rider start list will include outgoing world champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step), Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin), Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and British twins Simon and Adam Yates (Orica GreenEdge).

All 17 WorldTour teams have selected solid teams as they chase WorldTour ranking points. The three wild card teams invited to the race are Team Europcar, Bora-Argon 18 and Drapac Pro Cycling, with a Canadian national team completing the field. Ireland’s Sam Bennett leads the Bora Argon 18 team, while Will Clarke is listed for the Drapac team. The Team Canada squad includes former WorldTour rider Guillaume Boivin and Michael Woods (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits), who will ride for Cannondale-Garmin in 2016.

“With the renewed backing from the cities of Québec and Montréal, we trust that we will once again live up to the expectations of the world’s greatest riders—especially given that the line-up for 2015 is one of the most homogenous we’ve had since the GPs were founded,” Marcel Leblanc, Vice-President of the Québec City and Montréal Gran Prix Cycliste said announcing the teams and riders for this year’s race.