Pogacar leads incredibly strong UAE Team Emirates at hilly Canadian classics

The Canadian classics will have many points on offer, but they will also provide the riders with high-level World Tour competition, a different scenario to the regular European environment, and also serve as preparation for some eyeing the World Championships including Tadej Pogacar.

The Slovenian has, after the Tour de France, raced the Clasica San Sebastian where he did not finish, and the Bretagne Classic where he finished an anonymous 89th place. It was an unusual lack of spotlight on his shoulders throughout the two classics, but as he is gearing up the world championships which take place in the space of just over two weeks, the Slovenian is expected to arrive in Canada with a high level.

He will however not be the only card to play for the team. The team features Rui Costa and Diego Ulissi who have won the GP de Montréal in 2011 and 2017 respectively, coming as outsiders for the race following some strong performances recently as the Tour du Limousin. The team features Alessandro Covi and Davide Formolo who are also strong puncheurs who can go well in this type of terrain, Ryan Gibbons and George Bennett complete the lineup, also as possible outsiders for both races if they find themselves in strong form.

UAE Team Emirates for GP de Québec and GP de Montréal: Tadej Pogacar, George Bennett, Rui Costa, Alessandro Covi, Davide Formolo, Ryan Gibbons and Diego Ulissi.