This weekends Canadian Races

[Neworld]

The Montreal circuit seems to favour a sprint finish compared to the Québec one, which had that long uphill drag to the finish. Sportnet 1 in Ontario had the the last 2.5 hours of Friday's race live in HD with English commentary - I enjoyed this whilst working from home.

C77,

Do you know if SN1 ONT will have Sundays race on their lineup? If you could help that would be great.

I could be wrong but when S.Bauer won in 1988 (1st, G.P. d’Amériques, Montreal, CAN) is was not a bunch sprint.

NW

 

[luckyboy]

That was a pretty nice race. Good win for Voeckler

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

C77,

I could be wrong but when S.Bauer won in 1988 (1st, G.P. d’Amériques, Montreal, CAN) is was not a bunch sprint.

NW

Nope, he won solo. In the 5 years the GP d’’Amériques was held, nothing close to a bunch sprint happened.

 

[royalpig180]

Well, there won't be radios in worlds I think (right?), so it doesn't really matter who Kjærgaard has told them to go for, if both hushovd and EBH are there at the end they will most likely be sprinting against each other...

Radios or not, they'll have better communication than that...
If they see they're both there in the finale, they'll work together.
For who? Dunno... Hushovd seems like the better choice to me.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink on twitter about Montreal: "Just reconned the course. It's a horribly though race. A lot thougher than Quebec"

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink on twitter about Montreal: "Just reconned the course. It's a horribly though race. A lot thougher than Quebec"

Luckily he tweets in Dutch, otherwise it would seem he can't spell "tough".

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I often make that mistake. I'm just too fast with typing

 

[Hairy Wheels]

Gesink is right...Montreal is a lot tougher. I've raced on the Montreal circuit only once, but that was enough. I've raced on the Quebec course numerous times....it's hard, but for the Protour guys it's not that tough. Maybe add another 80 k on though (as in Worlds) and things get a lot harder.

Montreal has the Mont Royal climb and then another one afterwards (the Houde?). Not sure if it's on this course but if it is it will add oodles of pain.

Quebec 7/10
Montreal 9/10

That's my rating anyways...for what it's worth.

 

[flicker]

Gesink is right...Montreal is a lot tougher. I've raced on the Montreal circuit only once, but that was enough. I've raced on the Quebec course numerous times....it's hard, but for the Protour guys it's not that tough. Maybe add another 80 k on though (as in Worlds) and things get a lot harder.

Montreal has the Mont Royal climb and then another one afterwards (the Houde?). Not sure if it's on this course but if it is it will add oodles of pain.

Quebec 7/10
Montreal 9/10

That's my rating anyways...for what it's worth.

Montreal is a serious climbers course, eh?

 

[The Hitch]

Since i might not be here tomorow i am putting down my prediction now. Exact same prediction i put for Quebec
Ebh to get a non victory podium

WHo wins? who cares. Samu perhaps. But EBH down for podium is my prediction. That will make it a whole 3 months of 2nd 3rd 4th places in Vattenfalls, TDF stages most of the eneco stages etc.

Then in Geelong he breaks the spell.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Côte Camilien-Houde 1,8 km, 8% avg
Côte de la Polytechnique 780 m, 6% avg
Avenue du Parc 560 m, 4% avg

x16 laps
That is 50,8km climbing at about 7% average

.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cool vid of Ballan getting wheel change in Quebec!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZxh_pYYFo

 

[ansimi]

I'll predict a Gesink win and Hesjedal on the podium. Those guys are in shape, motivated, and this course suits them more than Quebec.

Weather forecast is calling for showers. I don't think this course will be too bad wet but it might keep a lot of spectators away which would be unfortunate. I remember visiting Montreal in September in the rain and I couldn't believe how empty the streets were - they have an entire city underground.

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

Found some old pics of the 1990 edition of the GP des Ameriques that was won by Franco Ballerini.

There's a good, but sad pic of Ballerini side-by-side with Rudy Dhaenens.

http://www.lagazzettadellabici.com/2010/02/franco-ballerini-and-grand-prix-des.html

 

[royalpig180]

Since i might not be here tomorow i am putting down my prediction now. Exact same prediction i put for Quebec
Ebh to get a non victory podium

WHo wins? who cares. Samu perhaps. But EBH down for podium is my prediction. That will make it a whole 3 months of 2nd 3rd 4th places in Vattenfalls, TDF stages most of the eneco stages etc.

Then in Geelong he breaks the spell.

Too bad he'll be working for Thor Hushovd (who you know will still be in the group if EBH is still in the group...)

 

[blaxland]

I would like to see Ryder win this race being on home soil,but i think S.Sanchez and Gesink(If it doesnt rain)will also animate this race...

 

[ansimi]

I would like to see Ryder win this race being on home soil,but i think S.Sanchez and Gesink(If it doesnt rain)will also animate this race...

A Samu win would be nice after his team's rough day at the Vuelta. Isn't Gesink good in rain? I would think he'd be fine. I know Hesjedal won't mind rain one bit.

 

[Wergeland]

Cool vid of Ballan getting wheel change in Quebec!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZxh_pYYFo

Cool. Doens anyone have a youtube-video of the finish?

Edit: Ingsve posted this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzGUmGSpfCw

 

[maltiv]

Since i might not be here tomorow i am putting down my prediction now. Exact same prediction i put for Quebec
Ebh to get a non victory podium

Looks to me like the course is too tough for him.

 

[ingsve]

Since i might not be here tomorow i am putting down my prediction now. Exact same prediction i put for Quebec
Ebh to get a non victory podium

WHo wins? who cares. Samu perhaps. But EBH down for podium is my prediction. That will make it a whole 3 months of 2nd 3rd 4th places in Vattenfalls, TDF stages most of the eneco stages etc.

Then in Geelong he breaks the spell.

So Veenendaal-Veenendaal doesn't count for you?

 

[kukiniloa]

Quebec is awesome but...

Quebec is a very special city, but I am wondering why no single American race, not even the Tour of California, can attract such a high quality field? The start list reads one of a major historical classic continental race!

Is it just the money? How much did it cost to get a ProTour race for the city of Quebec?

Are american sponsors just cheaper?

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Quebec is a very special city, but I am wondering why no single American race, not even the Tour of California, can attract such a high quality field? The start list reads one of a major historical classic continental race!

Is it just the money? How much did it cost to get a ProTour race for the city of Quebec?

Are american sponsors just cheaper?

Those 2 races are single day races with enough difficulties on the way to make for interesting races. And the place on the calender means they have basically no competition, simply because there aren't any other major one day races during the Vuelta.
On the other hand you got the ToC, being a stage race without any really interesting stages that make riders want to win it. And it takes place during another stage race with a much higher profile. A stage race that happens to be the most spectacular of the year in recent years.

So it is mostly the place on the calender and the type of race, not really a money issue.

 

[Hairy Wheels]

Quebec is a very special city, but I am wondering why no single American race, not even the Tour of California, can attract such a high quality field? The start list reads one of a major historical classic continental race!

Is it just the money? How much did it cost to get a ProTour race for the city of Quebec?

Are american sponsors just cheaper?

There are probably a few reasons. Charly Mottet might have something do with it. He probably has a working relationship with many of the directors/managers, both as a rider and organizer. Some of the DS's/managers may have raced the Montreal World Cup as well, that probably helps. Montreal also has a history of high-level eventsl...Olympics/Worlds/World Cups.

Culturally, Canada, particularly Quebec, has closer ties to Europe than the US does. Quebec still feels a strong affiliation with France...at Quebec city's 400th anniversary there were French politicians in attendance etc.

US sponsors are not cheaper, but Quebec based businesses are very European in their attitudes towards sport. It doesn't have to have a ball or a stick for them to get behind it, despite the popularity of hockey. Lastly, look at the composition of the Canadian National team for these races...only one non-Quebec rider. Quebec is the home of cycling in Canada...Ontario and BC are second. There is very little in the other provinces (Alberta has maybe a little more than very little...).

I should add that Dutchsmurf's reason of calendar placement has merit as well. End of the season is probably the best time for North American racing for the Euros.

 

[theyoungest]

Quebec is a very special city, but I am wondering why no single American race, not even the Tour of California, can attract such a high quality field? The start list reads one of a major historical classic continental race!

Is it just the money? How much did it cost to get a ProTour race for the city of Quebec?

Are american sponsors just cheaper?

The fact that it's a Protour race seems to be the main reason that they get such a strong field immediately in the first edition. Without it being Protour, I doubt that many teams would have taken the trip.

 

[Hairy Wheels]

The fact that it's a Protour race seems to be the main reason that they get such a strong field immediately in the first edition. Without it being Protour, I doubt that many teams would have taken the trip.

That would account for the teams of course, but I don't think it quite accounts for the riders selected to come. It's part of the reason for sure though (can't have the riders without the teams).

In terms of the original question about cost...I would have no idea. The money, in part, comes from both levels of government though. The federal government gives this money in the vain hopes of getting some traction in Quebec (the Conservative Party). The Liberals did it in 99 with the Tour of Canada. Their politics are generally more palatable to Quebec so they probably had a little more success with it.