When the WorldTour heads to Canada in September, many riders’ attention is initially focused on the World Championships. But before the rainbow jerseys come into play, the programme features two of the most exciting one-day races of the autumn: the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. Québec, in particular, enjoys a special reputation within the peloton. On paper, the race appears to be a fixture for classic riders with a strong finishing kick. In reality, however, the demanding course regularly produces surprises.
Since its debut in 2010, the race has established itself as a fixture on the WorldTour calendar. The combination of an urban circuit, numerous changes of direction, short, gruelling climbs and an atmosphere that reminds many riders of the spring classics makes the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec one of the most popular races in North America. The list of winners is equally prestigious, featuring names such as Peter Sagan, Simon Gerrans, Michael Matthews and, most recently, Julian Alaphilippe.
The route of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is held on a circuit in the historic centre of Québec. The riders complete the course several times, passing the same key points again and again. This not only creates a special atmosphere along the route, but also makes for a hectic and tactically demanding race. Anyone hoping to succeed must pace themselves perfectly over several hours whilst remaining alert at all times.
The focus is on the Côte de la Montagne. Although the climb is comparatively short at around 600 metres, it is no walk in the park, with an average gradient of around nine per cent and sections of up to 13 per cent. After several hours of racing, this climb becomes a real challenge for the professionals. Time and again, decisive gaps open up here, splitting the race into groups of favourites.
The decision will only be made after the final climb
The route in the final stretch is particularly interesting. After the Côte de la Montagne, the riders do not reach the finish line straight away. Instead, there is a gently ascending section on the way to the Abraham Plains. This means that it is not enough simply to be explosive. Anyone who wants to win must still have enough strength after the decisive attack or acceleration to defend their lead all the way to the finish line or to be the first off the mark in a sprint from a small group. It is precisely this combination that makes Québec an ideal race for puncheurs and classic all-rounders. Pure sprinters are usually dropped well before the finish, whilst pure climbers rarely have the necessary punch for the final stretch.
The favourites
As defending champion Julian Alaphilippe has since retired, it is already clear before the start that Québec 2026 will have a new winner. UAE Team Emirates – XRG is fielding what is arguably the strongest team. In Jhonatan Narváez, the team has a rider for whom the course profile is almost tailor-made. The Ecuadorian is one of the strongest sprinters amongst the classics riders in the peloton; he handles short, steep climbs with ease and possesses the necessary top speed to win even from a strong group. Should the race follow a similar pattern to previous years, Narváez will be among the absolute favourites.
At the same time, UAE has several options up its sleeve. Tim Wellens brings the experience and resilience required on Québec’s hectic city circuit. The Belgian has been one of the WorldTour’s strongest classics riders for years, though he lacks a little of the punch in a straight sprint compared to his team-mate Narváez. Should the race, however, turn out to be unusually selective, Isaac del Toro could come into the spotlight. The young Mexican seems to be succeeding at almost everything at the moment. If the group of favourites is significantly thinned out before the finish, Del Toro could capitalise on his climbing abilities and his strong form. It is only in an explosive sprint against the fastest classics riders that he is at a slight disadvantage.
The challengers
The same applies to Remco Evenepoel. Regardless of the terrain, the Belgian is always among the wider circle of favourites and could benefit particularly from an extremely tough race. However, he, too, is not the rider one would name first in a sprint from a large group of favourites. With Maxim van Gils, however, Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe has another contender for victory in the line-up. The Belgian won the 2024 Eschborn–Frankfurt race and possesses many of the qualities required in Québec. However, even he lacks a little top speed when compared with the most explosive riders in the field.
One such explosive rider, however, is Kaden Groves. The Australian withdrew from the Vuelta a España early and is now turning his attention to the North American WorldTour classics. The demanding course suits him down to the ground, as Groves excels on short climbs and then possesses a sprint that few riders in this field can match. The big question, however, is his current form. This does not appear quite as convincing as that of some of his direct rivals.
Michael Matthews should not be underestimated either. The Australian has already won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec in 2018, 2019 and 2024, making him one of the most successful riders in the race’s history. Now aged 35, he regularly has to hold his own against significantly younger rivals. Nevertheless, hardly any professional knows the intricacies of this race better than Matthews. His experience, racing instinct and ability to turn even difficult finishes to his advantage make him once again a serious contender.
Could the Punchers spring a surprise?
Marc Hirschi is one of the interesting outsiders. The Swiss rider has already proven on several occasions that he excels in hilly classics with explosive finishes. The course in Québec generally suits his strengths. However, it is likely to be difficult for him to hold his own in a head-to-head sprint against riders such as Narváez or Groves. His best chance therefore lies in an attack before the final stretch or in a particularly selective race scenario.
Tom Pidcock is also one to watch closely. The Briton is travelling to Canada brimming with confidence, having only recently secured the World Championship title in mountain bike XCO. He also proved that his legs are still in excellent form with his Victory at the GP Industria & Artigianato. Pidcock has the explosive power to make a decisive impact on the Côte de la Montagne and can hold his own in a sprint against many of the lighter riders. However, he is likely to be at a slight disadvantage against the peloton’s strongest sprinters in the classics. This is precisely why Québec could present a major opportunity for the Briton, particularly if the race is contested in a particularly attacking and selective manner.
Leon Weidner
Editor