Grand Prix Cycliste draws North America's cycling elite

The Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal, a new cycling event on the ProTour Circuit, is underway -- taking nearly 200 cyclists through a challenging course on and around Mount Royal.

The race, which began just after noon, will wrap up at 5:15 p.m.

Touted as an "extremely high caliber competition" for "the planet's cycling elite", the event was expected to draw thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

The athletes are cycling 16 laps around a 12.1 kilometre circuit -- for a total of almost 194 kilometres.

There are a number of major road closures in the area because of the event. Click here for details.

• 

  Grand Prix Cycliste participants are cycling 16 laps around a 12.1 kilometre circuit -� for a total of almost 194 kilometres. (Courtesy: Grand Prix Cycliste)