MONTREAL - A batch of 173 racers from 22 teams blasted off from the starting line at the second annual Montreal Grand Prix of cycling Sunday at the foot of Mount Royal
Last year's winner Robert Gesink (Rabobank) from the Netherlands was among the participants as was Philippe Gilbert ((Omega Pharma-Lotto) of Belgium, who bagged the Quebec city race on Frday and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, who came in third in Montreal last year.
The four Quebecers pedaling for glory are Dominique Rollin (FDJ) et David Veilleux (Europcar) as well as François Parisien and Bruno Langlois of the Canadian Spidertech team.
Sunday's race consists of 17 laps measuring 12.1 kilometers, for a total distance of 205.7 kilometers, the hardest stretch of which is along the steep slope on Camilien-Houde Road.
The race is expected to end around 4 p.m.
