Former GP Cycliste de Montréal winner Robert Gesink will aim to repeat his success of 2010 when he lines out as part of the Belkin team in this year’s race on Sunday, and will also try the same in the GP Cycliste de Québec two days earlier.
The Dutchman finished fifth overall in the Tour of Alberta last week and his form is on the up. He and the rest of the team are psyched for the two WorldTour races, and will chase a big result prior to the worlds.
“I like these two races,” he said. “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.”
After competing in the Giro and then going on to the Tour, where he finished a solid 26th overall despite working for Bauke Mollema and Laurens ten Dam, Gesink took a break in the US. He then began training there to build up for the second half of the season.
“After the Tour de France I needed a rest. I had done a lot of racing,” he explained. “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,” he said, adding that he is often away form them due to his racing.
He was encouraged by his showing in Alberta, not least because his favourite terrain was missing and he got a result despite that.
“It was a good week and although it was mainly flat, I still managed to finish fifth overall,” he said. “I was attentive during the day with crosswinds, which shows I’m in a good shape.”
Also on the Belkin team for the Canadian races is Lars Petter Nordhaug, who won in Montréal last year. They will be joined by Jack Bobridge, Marc Goos, Moreno Hofland, Steven Kruijswijk, Paul Martens and Tour Down Under winner Tom-Jelte Slagter.
Directeur sportif Frans Maassen said that he was relatively satisfied with the Alberta showing, although he pointed out that the team didn’t achieve a goal of winning a stage.
“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,” he said. “Now we’ll try to win in Québec and Montréal.
“With two former winners and specialists as Slagter and Martens, we have a strong team.”