Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka will take to the start of the Grand Prix Cyclistes Quebec and Montreal later this week. It will be the first time for the team to race in Canada.

The African team travelled over the pond with an experienced team of riders that have already shown their potential on hilly courses. Serge Pauwels will lead the team into the two races, which start off with the GP Quebec on Friday and end with the GP Montreal the following Sunday. Pauwels, who finished 2nd this year on the Mt. Ventoux stage of the Tour de France, will be joined by punchy riders Nathan Haas and Natnael Berhane. Both can certainly propel on courses like the two lumpy city circuits that await the riders in Quebec and Montreal. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Youcef Reguigui will also be playing vital roles for the team, when those races go into their final stages. Songezo Jim, Adrien Niyonshuti and Matt Brammeier will round out the squad.

Apart from Pauwels and Haas all riders will make their debut on Canadian roads. Nevertheless, the African team will try to leave its mark on both the Grands Prix Cyclistes Québec & Montréal.

The GP Quebec will be held on a 12.1km long circuit through the historic centre of Quebec. The riders will tackle the course 16 times and will have around 3.000m of climbing in their legs once they reach the finish line.

The GP Montreal offers even more climbing, clocking a total of 3.900m of climbing on a circuit that needs to be ridden 17 times, and which is likely to see a good climber coming out on top.

Serge Pauwels said:

"Quebec and Montreal are two very beautiful and well organized races. Quebec is more suited for a classics rider like we have in Reinhardt. Montreal is more demanding in terms of climbing. I have done both races in the past and I am looking forward to racing in Canada again."