The Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team will line up with a strong squad at the upcoming Canadian one-day races, one that’s capable of winning in a variety of ways.  
 
Defending Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec champion Rigoberto Urán will start at the Quebec and Montreal races. He will be joined by Alberto Bettiol, André Cardoso, Lawson Craddock, Ramūnas Navardauskas, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Toms Skujiņš, and Michael Woods. The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec is on Friday with the sister race in Montréal following two days later. Urán won in Québec last year, while riding for Etixx-Quick Step, with a late race solo move.
 
Uran isn’t the only one with solid experience in Canada, either. Slagter has finished in the top 10 three times in Québec; Navardauskas has finished third in Québec and fourth in Montreal. Both races are technical, lumpy circuits that put premiums on positioning and bike handling.
 
“Québec and Montréal are both nice races. They’re fast with a lot of action on technical circuits. The WorldTour level is high and every team is strong,” said sport director Fabrizio Guidi. “We have riders able to face every situation and with skills to target a very good result. Good communication between riders can make the difference, especially when we start with more than one leader. I’m confident in this group.”
 
For Canadian Mike Woods, just off the Tour of Alberta, these races are a homecoming of sorts.
 
“These are very special races to me,” said Woods. “Montreal isn't that far from my hometown of Ottawa, so these two races are effectively home races. There is a large group of cyclists from Ottawa that rides to Montreal to watch the race, and some, including my dad, even come out to Québec City. I always have unreal fan support.”
 
“There are a lot of things that make these races cool, and probably my favorite races on the WorldTour circuit,” Woods added. “Both courses are dynamic, technical and hard.  The race organizers treat the riders super well, and being the only WorldTour races in North America, the crowds are great.”
 
The two one-day races round out the Canadian swing for the peloton.
 
“We had two near wins already here in Canada, at the Tour of Alberta,” noted Woods. “We are bringing a really strong team to Montreal and Quebec. I think we have a real shot at making it on to the top step of the podium.”
 
Cannondale-Drapac for GP Québec and GP Montreal:
 Alberto Bettiol
Andre Cardoso
Lawson Craddock
Ramūnas Navardauskas
Tom-Jelte Slagter
Toms Skujiņš
Rigoberto Urán
Mike Woods