After the spectacular Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, the group has moved 250 km southwest, where tomorrow the 2025 GP of Montreal will take place, in the largest Francophone city of the American Continent. From a city with strong European traits like Québec, we move to a more identifiable American metropolis, even though unique characteristics are not lacking, given that we are talking about a completely insular city, as it rises on the Hochelaga archipelago, a group of islands at the confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers.

Between the two Canadian races, Montreal is certainly the harder one and slightly more suitable for climbers, considering that in the last 3 years, Tadej Pogačar has won twice and Adam Yates once. While yesterday Bettiol achieved the first Italian podium ever in Québec, in Montreal the Italian track record is better, with Diego Ulissi's victory in 2017 and the podiums of Moreno Moser, Simone Ponzi, Sonny Colbrelli, and Andrea Bagioli.

The race will start at 4:15 PM Italian time and conclude around 9:45 PM. As always, it will be visible on Discovery+ channels.

THE ROUTE

After the crowd bath in Québec, tens of thousands of fans are also expected along the route in Montreal. The formula is the same as Friday, with a 12.3 km circuit to be repeated 17 times, for a total of 209.1 km of pure American-style show. The loop will develop entirely inside and around the Parc du Mont-Royal, 200 hectares of green area nestled on the city's mountain, Mont Royal itself, where the city's University also stands.

The most challenging part of the circuit comes immediately after the start line, the Côte Camillien-Houde (1.8 km at 8%) that leads to the city's highest point. Arriving in the University area, about halfway through the loop, there's the Côte de Polytechnique (780 meters at 6%, with 200 meters at 11%), but the difficulties are not over, because approaching the finish there's first Avenue de Mont-Royal (600 meters at 7%) and then the final straight not to be underestimated, Avenue du Parc (560 meters at 4%). It thus appears clear that such a circuit, tackled 17 times with a total elevation gain of 4,500 meters, risks creating significant selection, especially if ridden with a determined approach.

THE FAVORITES

Tadej Pogačar would be the overwhelming favorite regardless, but if, as Alberto Bettiol said, UAE Team Emirates-XRG "will be angry about losing in Québec", then his opponents might be in for a tough time. In Montreal, there's ample space to make a difference, the world champion has already won it twice, and at this point he has the triple in his sights to arrive fresh and charged for the World Championship in Rwanda. The Emiratis will also have Pavel Sivakov, 2nd on Friday, Tim Wellens, Brandon McNulty, and Adam Yates, winner in 2023, which is why it will be complicated to escape their tactics.

The most accredited opponent, Wout Van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), admitted to not having great legs in Québec, so it won't be easy for him to respond to all of UAE's attacks. Those who certainly had good legs are Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astama), and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), but also watch out for Bahrain Victorious with Matej Mohorič, Pello Bilbao, and Edoardo Zambanini.

Also not to be underestimated are Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Simone Velasco (XDS Astana), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), and Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), while the faster riders like Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Biniam Girmay (Intermarchè-Wanty), Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), and Corbin Strong (Israel-PremierTech) will need to pull a rabbit out of the hat.