USUAL SUSPECTS FAVOURED TO SHINE IN QPCQM RACES

Past winners Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) but also former podium finishers like Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), are again expected to steal the show both on Québec’s Grande Allée on Friday and in Montréal’s Mont Royal on Sunday.

As GPCQM’s executive vice-president Marcel Leblanc explained, “we have a high class field, with several riders in great shape and several former winners like Van Avermaet, Wellens, Ulissi, Rui Coasta and Simon Gerrans, the most often crowned rider in our races with three wins”. And the usual suspects made it clear their ambitions were high in a season where the World championships, held on a hilly course in Innsbruck, Austria, might suit the climbers better than the riders favoured to do well in Canada.

 Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet won in Montréal in 2016 but has yet to raise his arms in Québec City despite four podium finishes in the old capital. “I’m happy to be here again. These are races that suit me well, there’s always a great atmosphere and good crowds. I hope to be at my best level now and to be there in the finale. Hopefully I can win Québec after a few times on the podium.”

Also winner in Montréal in 2015, fellow-Belgian Tim Wellens is eager for more, especially on Sunday, on a course made even harder by the addition of a new climb in the finale. “Montréal suits me better, the course is beautiful and there are fewer turns than here. Of course I’ll be closely watched but when you have the legs you can make a difference,” he said.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

Car number 74 driven by Kevin Lacroix takes the checkered flag at the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, JuliaWine.com 50 tours at the GP3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec

Nissan Micra Cup

The Nissan Cup races are new of this year, but a lot of fun to watch and to cover.  This was the Nissan Cup race held during the GP3R weekend event in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Nissan Micra cup

Nissan Micra Cup

The first Micra Cup Race I saw was in June at the Canadian Granbd Prix in Montreal. these are base model Nissan Micras converted for track racing, each car cost $20,000. We weren't expecting much of these petite underpowered cars, but what a great entertaining race we had.

This weekend there will be another Nisan Micra Cup race at the GP3R  in Trois-Rvieres. The Nissan Micra^® Cup consists of 10 races across 5 weekends in Quebec. From May to September, over 25 Nissan Micras^® will star in this series, unique to Quebec and Canada.

 Each racing weekend will include a 30-minute trial, a 30-minute qualifying session and two 30-minute races - that's over 2 hours of track-time, adrenaline and fun.

See you at the GP3R.

Grand Prix Cycliste Montreal

Had a great day covering the Grand Prix Cycliste event in Montreal.