GP Quebec
Introduced in 2010, the more explosive course of the two. Features a nice little circuit in Quebec City. Mostly undulating and flat, but at the end of the lap three short steep hills. The Cote de La Montagne (375m, 10%), Cote de La Potasse (190m, 7%) and the Montée du Fort (1km at 4%). The last climb is also the finish line, so it's an uphill drag to the line.
The race favors a lot of different type of riders. Sprinters who can survive a good hill. Puncheurs who have a good sprint, and even climbers who can survive a hard race and profit from the last uphill drag to sneak away.
We've seen people win with a late attack (Voeckler in 2010, Uran). We've seen people win from a group sprint (Sagan, Gerrans) and we've seen people get away solo from the climb itself (Gilbert).
The only guy who won more than once here is Simon Gerrans, he won the sprint in 2012 and then in 2014 overhauled a late attack by Tom Dumoulin just meters before the line.
Profile
Recent winners:
2010 Thomas Voeckler
2011 Philippe Gilbert
2012 Simon Gerrans
2013 Robert Gesink
2014 imon Gerrans
2015 Rigoberto Urán
2016 Peter Sagan
Top 10 last year
1 SAGAN Peter Tinkoff805002255:07:13
2 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team60400150,,
3 ROUX Anthony FDJ50325110,,
4 BETTIOL Alberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team4027590,,
5 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA-BikeExchange3022580,,
6 HAAS Nathan Dimension Data2217570,,
7 ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida1415060,,
8 MOLLEMA Bauke Trek - Segafredo1012550,,
9 VAKOC Petr Etixx - Quick Step610046,,
10 URAN Rigoberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team28542,,
GP Montreal
The harder race of the two, although it can also end up in a group sprint, it figures a longer, tougher climb. Down side, the climb is just after start/finish, and thus relatively far from the finish. The second climb is more explosive but not hard enough to really create big gaps.
The big climb of the day is the Cote de Camillien-Houde, it's 1,8km long at 8%. Then followed by a long descent and immediately the second climb, the Polytechnique (780m at 6%, but with a 200m pitch at 11%). The finish line is also another uphill drag at 4%.
Definitely suits the sprinters who can survive a hill less, and suits the puncheurs and even the climbers more. The list of winner includes a few who also won in Quebec, like Gerrans, Sagan and Gesink. We also see strong guys as Wellens, Costa and Nordhaug as victorious here.
Still, a good Sagan or Van Avermaet can win both races if they are on point. A lot depends on if there is headwind or tailwind on Camillien Houde. Headwind means a large group sprint. Tailwind means a climber might win.
Profile
Recent winners
2010 Robert Gesink
2011 Rui Costa
2012 Lars Petter Nordhaug
2013 Peter Sagan
2014 Simon Gerrans
2015 Tim Wellens
2016 Greg van Avermaet
Result last year
1 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team805002255:27:04
2 SAGAN Peter Tinkoff60400150,,
3 ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida50325110,,
4 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA-BikeExchange4027590,,
5 HAAS Nathan Dimension Data3022580,,
6 MOSCON Gianni Team Sky2217570,,
7 BETTIOL Alberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team1415060,,
8 IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team1012550,,
9 ROUX Anthony FDJ610046,,
10 ALAPHILIPPE Julian Etixx - Quick Step28542,,
Main favorites
A lot depends on which race. But for both races we can say Greg Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan are the biggest favorites.
The line up for both races is strong with also Gerrans (won both Quebec and Montreal), Matthews, Dumuolin, Henao, Mollema, Stuyven, Naesen, Vuillermoz, Uran (another past winner), Bettiol and Slagter (strong results in the past), Ulissi, Wellens (yet another past winner), Gallopin and some others I probably forgot to mention.
I personally look really look forward to these races as they are enjoyable to watch
Introduced in 2010, the more explosive course of the two. Features a nice little circuit in Quebec City. Mostly undulating and flat, but at the end of the lap three short steep hills. The Cote de La Montagne (375m, 10%), Cote de La Potasse (190m, 7%) and the Montée du Fort (1km at 4%). The last climb is also the finish line, so it's an uphill drag to the line.
The race favors a lot of different type of riders. Sprinters who can survive a good hill. Puncheurs who have a good sprint, and even climbers who can survive a hard race and profit from the last uphill drag to sneak away.
We've seen people win with a late attack (Voeckler in 2010, Uran). We've seen people win from a group sprint (Sagan, Gerrans) and we've seen people get away solo from the climb itself (Gilbert).
The only guy who won more than once here is Simon Gerrans, he won the sprint in 2012 and then in 2014 overhauled a late attack by Tom Dumoulin just meters before the line.
Profile

Recent winners:
2010 Thomas Voeckler
2011 Philippe Gilbert
2012 Simon Gerrans
2013 Robert Gesink
2014 imon Gerrans
2015 Rigoberto Urán
2016 Peter Sagan
Top 10 last year
1 SAGAN Peter Tinkoff805002255:07:13
2 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team60400150,,
3 ROUX Anthony FDJ50325110,,
4 BETTIOL Alberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team4027590,,
5 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA-BikeExchange3022580,,
6 HAAS Nathan Dimension Data2217570,,
7 ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida1415060,,
8 MOLLEMA Bauke Trek - Segafredo1012550,,
9 VAKOC Petr Etixx - Quick Step610046,,
10 URAN Rigoberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team28542,,
GP Montreal
The harder race of the two, although it can also end up in a group sprint, it figures a longer, tougher climb. Down side, the climb is just after start/finish, and thus relatively far from the finish. The second climb is more explosive but not hard enough to really create big gaps.
The big climb of the day is the Cote de Camillien-Houde, it's 1,8km long at 8%. Then followed by a long descent and immediately the second climb, the Polytechnique (780m at 6%, but with a 200m pitch at 11%). The finish line is also another uphill drag at 4%.
Definitely suits the sprinters who can survive a hill less, and suits the puncheurs and even the climbers more. The list of winner includes a few who also won in Quebec, like Gerrans, Sagan and Gesink. We also see strong guys as Wellens, Costa and Nordhaug as victorious here.
Still, a good Sagan or Van Avermaet can win both races if they are on point. A lot depends on if there is headwind or tailwind on Camillien Houde. Headwind means a large group sprint. Tailwind means a climber might win.
Profile

Recent winners
2010 Robert Gesink
2011 Rui Costa
2012 Lars Petter Nordhaug
2013 Peter Sagan
2014 Simon Gerrans
2015 Tim Wellens
2016 Greg van Avermaet
Result last year
1 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team805002255:27:04
2 SAGAN Peter Tinkoff60400150,,
3 ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida50325110,,
4 MATTHEWS Michael ORICA-BikeExchange4027590,,
5 HAAS Nathan Dimension Data3022580,,
6 MOSCON Gianni Team Sky2217570,,
7 BETTIOL Alberto Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team1415060,,
8 IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team1012550,,
9 ROUX Anthony FDJ610046,,
10 ALAPHILIPPE Julian Etixx - Quick Step28542,,
Main favorites
A lot depends on which race. But for both races we can say Greg Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan are the biggest favorites.
The line up for both races is strong with also Gerrans (won both Quebec and Montreal), Matthews, Dumuolin, Henao, Mollema, Stuyven, Naesen, Vuillermoz, Uran (another past winner), Bettiol and Slagter (strong results in the past), Ulissi, Wellens (yet another past winner), Gallopin and some others I probably forgot to mention.
I personally look really look forward to these races as they are enjoyable to watch