All you need to know about GP Québec and GP Montréal as superstar lineup arrives to Canada to prep for UCI road world championships.
(Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Updated September 9, 2026 12:42AM
Remco Evenepoel, Isaac Del Toro, Tom Pidcock, Paul Seixas, Quinn Simmons, Matteo Jorgenson … It might be easier to list which superstar cyclists aren’t racing the GP Cycliste de Québec and GP Cycliste de Montréal.
The GP Québec on Friday and GP Montréal on Sunday this week have drawn two of the strongest startlists of the entire season.
And that’s for good reason.
The Canadian Grand Prix are the perfect final primers for riders with dreams of rainbow jerseys. The UCI road world championships in Montréal kick off just one week after the WorldTour classic in that very city.
There’s no better way to prepare for a world title bid than in the exact terrain, climate, and time zone that will decide who wears the stripes for the next 12 months.
With Tadej Pogačar on the sidelines, the only two favorites for road worlds who are not racing in Canada this week are Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.
Here’s everything you need to know about GP Québec and GP Montréal, including narratives, maps, timings, and TV guide.
Key riders and narratives
Quinn Simmons finished third behind a UAE 1-2 in Montréal 2025. The Coloradan has strong odds to go two steps better in 2026. (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe/ Belgium):
The top favorite for the world championship time trial and one of many contenders for the road race will be wanting to get his legs back underneath him after a long layoff following the Tour de France.
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 / Great Britain):
The multi-discipline star needs to thread the needle between fitness and freshness for road worlds after he romped through MTB worlds and the GP Industria & Artigianato in the past fortnight.
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek / USA):
“Captain America” finished third behind a McNulty-Pogačar 1-2 last year in Montréal and is a dark horse contender for both Sunday’s Grand Prix and the following road worlds.
Michael Woods (Canada national team):
Yes, that “Rusty” Woods is temporarily coming out of his road retirement to join Team Canada at his home GPs and then the road worlds.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec: Friday, September 11
Distance: 206km
Course: 20 laps of a 10.3km circuit
Total elevation gain: 2,780m
Key climb: Côte de la Montagne (600m at 9%)
Recent winners: Julian Alaphilippe (2025), Michael Matthews (2024), Arnaud De Lie (2023)
Headline names on provisional start list: Evenepoel, Del Toro, McNulty, Seixas, Pidcock, Jorgenson, Matthews, Schmid, Simmons, Ayuso, Ciccone, Gee-West, Woods.
What to expect at GP Québec?
Tough-guy sprinter Michael Matthews has won this race three times. That says it all. In most cases, you can bet on the winner coming from a small-group gallop of fast-finishers who can climb.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Sunday, September 13
Distance: 214km
Course: 16 laps of 13.4km circuit
Total elevation gain: 4,300m
Key climb: Voie Camillien-Houde (1.8km at 8%)
Recent winners: Brandon McNulty (2025), Tadej Pogačar (2024), Adam Yates (2023)
Headline names on provisional startlists: Evenepoel, Del Toro, McNulty, Seixas, Pidcock, Jorgenson, Matthews, Schmid, Simmons, Ayuso, Ciccone, Gee-West, Woods
What to expect at GP Montréal
Again, check the roll of honor from Montréal – this is a grueling, hilly race where only the best climbers and puncheurs can survive.
There’s no typical finale here, but expect the victory to be earned “à la pedale.”
Historically, riders who could win the fast finish in Québec were less well suited to the hills of Montréal. In the wild world of 2026, riders like Evenepoel, Pidcock, and Seixas are versatile enough to have a chance in both.
Timings and how to watch GP Québec and GP Montréal
The Grand Prix and road worlds will make Montréal the center of the cycling universe this month. (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)
Timings:
GP Québec (September 11): 11:00 – 16:00 EDT
GP Montréal (September 13): 10:15 – 15:45 EDT
Race broadcasters:
USA: HBO Max
Canada: TVA Sports / FloBikes
UK: TNT Sports / HBO Max
Australia: FloBikes
Worldwide: Eurosport, L’Equipe, NOS, Sporza, RTVE, RTBF, VRT, TV2, JSport