Quebec

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
Québec City, 189.0km/117mi
By Cathy Mehl
  The Pro-Tour came to North America for the first time on Friday and the racing action lived up to the pre-race anticipation as a quality field took to a technically demanding circuit with more than a few hairpin turns, sweeping downhills and leg-breaking climbs.   Riding at times through the narrow streets of the walled city of Old Québec, fifteen times around the course proved to be the undoing of more than a few riders, but Team RadioShack finished three-strong  with Team riders Haimar Zubeldia, Chris Horner and Tiago Machado all making the front group behind winner Thomas Voeckler (Bbox). The French rider attacked uphill with less than one kilometer to go and had the legs to hold his gap across the finish line with plenty of time to blow a few kisses to an appreciative crowd.  Second place went to Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson-Hagen and third to Robert Gesink of Rabobank.    Team RadioShack’s best-placed rider was Zubeldia in 11th, with Horner a few slots behind for 17th.  Machado was part of the next group a few seconds later.

By Cathy Mehl

Getting up close and personal with a cycling team isn’t always easily achieved, but this was far from true on Wednesday night in Québec City when the riders from Team RadioShack appeared for a meet and greet put on by Sport Olympe.  Pierre Laferriere and his lovely wife Caroline Boisclair are important Trek dealers in this area and hosted a private event for a select number of their preferred customers.  Promptly at 6:45 a limo arrived at the Team hotel to take us to the nearby eleganly stylish hotel and restaurant Auberge St-Antoine.  The ultra-modern setting provided a stunning background for the special event.

By Cathy Mehl
The UCI Pro Tour has arrived in Canada by crossing the Atlantic Ocean ….in a chartered jet, no less.  Twenty-two teams have arrived in Québec City to ride in two one-day races, the first coming up on Friday.  Team RadioShack, along with all other teams, have all settled in at the beautiful Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in the heart of Old Québec.  The hotel  is teaming with activity as riders come and go, wheeling bikes through the lobby and bundling up for training rides.  Morning rain fell hard and fast, but cloudy skies are holding off on dumping more rain for now and the streets are drying.  It’s afternoon and with most of the riders and staff still not adjusted to the time difference, it’s quiet now while the boys get massage, catch up on emails and in general just take it easy.

The Team line-up for the next races:
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec (Can), September 10, 2010Riders: Jani Brajkovic, Chris Horner, Markel Irizar, Levi Leipheimer, Tiago Machado, Sérgio Paulinho, Yaroslav Pöpovych & Haimar ZubeldiaDirector: Viatcheslav Ekimov

 
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (Can), September 12, 2010
Riders: Jani Brajkovic, Chris Horner, Markel Irizar, Levi Leipheimer, Tiago Machado, Sérgio Paulinho, Yaroslav Pöpovych & Haimar Zubeldia Director: Viatcheslav Ekimov