The Belkin Pro Cycling Team will appear at the start of GP de Québec Cicliste (Friday) and the GP de Montreal Cicliste (Sunday) with two former winners. The team hopes to repeat 2010 and 2012, when Robert Gesink and Lars Petter Nordhaug scored successes in Montreal.

“I like these two races,” said Gesink. “I have achieved good results in both races and I’m ready for this year’s events. Sagan is the man to beat, but we are a strong unit and we’ll work together as a team.”

Gesink’s palmares also includes a third place in 2010 and a second place in 2011 in Quebec.

Gesink has prepared thoroughly for the two Canadian classics on North American soil. After the Tour the France, he went to the United States for a holiday and a training camp.

“After the Tour de France I needed a rest. I had done a lot of racing,” he continued. “Together with my girlfriend and daughter, I travelled and relaxed. After that, I had some solid training weeks while the girls stayed with me. It’s good to combine cycling and family. As a cyclist you’re often away from home so you don’t get to spend much time with your family.”

Gesink returned to racing in Canada’s Tour of Alberta last week.

“It was a good week and although it was mainly flat, I still managed to finish fifth overall. I was attentive during the day with crosswinds, which shows I’m in a good shape.”

Sports Director Frans Maassen is fairly happy with how his riders rode in the Tour of Alberta, even if their performance lacked one thing. “We wanted to acclimatize well and try to win a stage. We failed in the latter,” Maassen explained. “We did well by being in every break, getting Robert and Steven Kruijswijk in the top ten of the GC and taking the mountains jersey with Tom-Jelte Slagter, but in the end it’s winning that counts. Now we’ll try to win in Québec and Montréal.”

Maassen believes in the Belkin Pro Cycling Team’s chances. “With two former winners and specialists as Slagter and Martens, we have a strong team.”

Belkin line-up for GP de Québec Cicliste and GP de Montreal Cicliste:

Jack Bobridge, Robert Gesink, Marc Goos, Moreno Hofland, Steven Kruijswijk, Paul Martens, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Tom-Jelte Slagter.