May 29/14 19:39 pm - Tour de Beauce Announces Teams

Posted by Editoress on 05/29/14
 

The Tour de Beauce, Canada's top domestic stage race, which celebrates its 29th edition this year, announced Thursday a high calibre peloton featuring cyclists hailing from 19 different countries.

Tour de Beauce, with a UCI 2.2 sanction will host teams from Canada, the United States and around the world for a five-day stage race on the roads of the Chaudière-Appalaches, the Eastern Townships and Quebec regions.

The intense competition will feature 140 cyclists from 21 professional and development cycling teams, three more teams than last year. Over its 28 editions, the Tour de Beauce crowned champions from Canada, the United States, France, Australia, Poland, Ukraine, Spain, the Czech Republic, Moldova and New Zealand.

"The Tour de Beauce remains one of the most respected cycling events on the calendar. Year after year, teams from across North America and Europe make the journey here to participate in the stage race," commented Francis Rancourt, Executive Director of the Tour de Beauce.

Rancourt added: "And this year is no exception to this rule. We were forced to refuse teams who wanted to race here in Quebec, which is a great problem to have as an organizer. It demonstrates year after year the particular interest for the Tour de Beauce."

Two UCI continental teams from Canada will be on the start line - Garneau-Quebecor and Silber Pro Cycling Team.

Six of the 21 teams are from Canada, seven of the United States and eight are from outside North America, including Colombia, Denmark, Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Australia and Latvia.

Two Quebec regional teams will be present on the starting line - Norco Bicycles / Premier Tech and Vélosélect. There will also be two other teams from Canada: Team H/R Block of British Columbia, and Ride with Rendall from Ontario.

The International presence will again by very powerful with the presence of the Team Novo Nordisk, the only Pro Continental team in the race.

Also noteworthy is the presence of the always surprising team 5-Hour Energy, with Quebecer Bruno Langlois on its roster, Team SmartStop with Canadian Rob Britton, and Team Optum-Kelly Benefits Strategies, directed by former Beauce winner Eric Wohlberg (1995).

The Tour de Beauce is organized for the third consecutive year on the eve of Canadian Road Championships, also held by the Corporation du Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce.

2014 Teams

4-72 Colombia (Col)
5-Hour Energy (USA)
Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.com (Lat)
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP (Ukr)
Bike Aid - Ride for Help (Ger)
Christina Watches - Kuma (Den)
Firefighter (Swe)
Garneau-Quebecor (Can)
Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team (USA)
ISD Continental Team (Ukr)
Jamis Hagens Berman (USA)
JellyBelly p/b Maxxis (USA)
Norco Bicycles / Premier Tech (Can)
Ride with Rendall (Can)
Silber Pro Cycling Team (Can)
Team Budgetforklifts (Aus)
Team H/R Block (Can)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
Team Optum-Kelly Benefits Strategies (USA)
Team SmartStop (USA)
Vélosélect (Can)

Tour de Beauce press release