Each lap amounts to 12.6 kilometres and starts in a park high above the banks of the Saint Lawrence River – or Fleuve Saint-Laurent, as the French speaking people in Quebec prefer to call the river. At kilometre 4 the route drops down to the water and continues on the Boulevard de Champlain. Running from kilometre 5 to kilometre 9, this is the flattest section of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.
The riders race the city walls on the narrow Rue de Remparts, which is overlooking the port. At kilometre 10 the next climb appears. Côte de la Potasse is 420 metres at 9%, quickly followed by a 190 metres climb at 7% on the Montée de la Fabrique. Once atop, the climbing is not done as the route continues to slope at 4% for about 1 kilometre.
The last 3.5 kilometres of each lap are toughest. This section begins with the Côte de la Montagne, a 375 meters climb at 10%. Its steepest stretch climbs for 165 metres at 13%.
Sixteen laps, sixteen climbs up these short and sharp hills; the Grand Prix de Québec is a war of attrition.
Peter Sagan won the last two editions. Previous winners are Rigoberto Uran (2015), Simon Gerrans (2012 and 2014), Robert Gesink (2013), Philippe Gilbert (2011) and Thomas Voeckler (2010).
Read also: results/race report Grand Prix de Québec 2018.
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2018: Route maps, height profile, and more
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