Team RadioShack has named a strong team for the debut of North America’s new ProTour events, the Gran Prix of Quebec (Sept. 10) and the Grand Prix of Montreal (Sept. 12). American Levi Leipheimer, fresh from his victory at the Tour of Utah, will be riding with fellow American Chris Horner, the outstanding young cyclists Janez Brajkovic and Tiago Machado, and veterans Sergio Paulinho. Yaroslav Popovych, and the former Euskatel-Euskadi riders Markel Irizar and Haimar Zubeldia, according to the startlist released today [25 August 2010]. Other major cyclists on the startlist include Tour de France top ten riders Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Canada’s own Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), and the winner of this year’s Giro d’Italia, Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo).
Both of the Canadian circuits are designed to showcase the host cities, which rise high above the deepwater ports of the St Lawrence River. The heights favor climbers and Team Radioshack has exceptional depth, led by Leipheimer, who has podium finishes in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España as well as his several wins in the Tour of California. Levi will be supported by the superb Spanish climbers Zubeldia and Irizar, and the other members of the team, who have also shown top form this year.
The 26-year old Slovenian Brajkovic took the yellow jersey in the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier this year, besting Alberto Contador. Tiago Machado, a 24-year old Portuguese all-rounder, is coming into his own, most recently with a top ten finish in the Tour of Poland. His countryman Sergio Paulinho, who like Popovych is best known as a domestique, won a stage of the Tour de France. Chris Horner, although one of the older riders at 38, won the Vuelta al País Vasco this spring, and has placed in the top ten in the Tour de France and the Tour of California, and several other major races.
The Canadian races will provide a showcase not only for the lovely cities of Quebec, but also provide an opportunity for Team Radioshack to avenge the slight by the organizers of the Vuelta a España (August 28-September 19) in not inviting the Shack to participate this year.
By Sarah Salter, staff writer
Alright! how about that lineup? Ride like the wind TRS.
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So….they’re Criteriums, oui? What are the laps/lengths?!?
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Can’t wait. Driving from Detroit to see both races and hope to see a Radio Shack win!
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Funny because I was in Quebec city in the Spring and asked a friend who lives there if there were ever any pro-cycling races there. I inquired because it looked to me to be the perfect spot for a classics-style race in North American: cobblestones, steep hills, broad boulevards, narrow streets, incredibly scenic, etc. Great line-up. I hope they dominate. Had I known I would have put my trip off until September.
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