QUEBEC -- If he were inclined that way, Ryder Hesjedal could go into the two races in his home country with a large measure of swagger. . But the Victoria rider was already among the perennial favourites at Grand Prix Cycliste events in Quebec City and Montreal before he won the Giro dItalia in May, becoming the first Canadian ever to win one of Europes Grand Tours (the tours of France, Italy and Spain). The 201.6-kilometre Quebec City race goes Friday through the hilly streets of the Old Town, while the steeper 205.7-km event up and down Mount Royal in Montreal is set for Sunday. They are key tune-ups for the world championships Sept. 15-23 in Limburg, Netherlands. The 31-year-old Hesjedal made his breakthrough when he finished seventh at the 2010 Tour de France, and topped that by beating most of the worlds best at this years Giro, snatching the Italian title with a win on the final-day time trial in Milan. "It doesnt change what Im doing," Hesjedal said this week. "Winning the Giro is a high, but Im looking to see what I can do in years to come, and it starts here and in Montreal." But he added: "Im still Giro dItalia champion. Its good every day." The Quebec City and Montreal events, now in their third year, are the only races on the UCI World Tour held in North America. Most of the top riders not currently involved in the Spanish Vuelta, will be at the starting line Friday morning. The race weekend warmed up with a sprint exhibition up and down the citys scenic Grand Allee on Thursday, with Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon and the Spidertech team nipping Aussie Matthew Goss at the finish line in the final. Hesjedal leads Garmin-Sharp, one of 21 eight-man teams that include Canadian Steve Bauers Spidertech squad. There is also a Canadian national team that will compete in Quebec City but not Montreal. Other favourites are Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, the 2010 Quebec City champion for Team Europcar, and Slovak Peter Sagan of Liquigas, who took three stages at this years Tour de France. Edvald Hagen Boasson of Norway was second to Voeckler two years ago and is a threat to win for Sky-Procycling. Spaniard Luis Sanchez of Radobank and 2011 Montreal winner Rui Da Costa of Movistar can also make waves. But among the missing are Belgian star Philippe Gilbert, who won in Quebec City and was third in Montreal last year, and Dutchman Robert Gesink, who was second in Quebec. Two other big names, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck, withdrew with injuries. Hesjedal, whose best was third place in Montreal in 2010, said it is tough to predict who will win either race. "The last two years, each race has unfolded in different ways," he said. "Its not like a classic thats been around for 80 years. "These races are exciting because theyre unpredictable." After winning the Giro, Hesjedal had high hopes at the Tour de France, and he was in eighth place when he got tangled in one of the mass crashes that marred the early stages of the three-week event. He was forced to withdraw with leg and hip injuries. He was Canadas lone rider in the road race at the London Olympics, where many top cycling countries had five-man teams. It was no surprise he finished 62nd. Hesjedal has not raced since then, opting for a rare mid-season break to heal up. "It was good to get home and see family and friends and take a little break," he said. "But not from training. I was on the bike the whole time." Hesjedal is 13th in UCI World Tour rankings, which are led by Briton Bradley Wiggins. Sagan is ranked 5th and Boasson Hagen is 11th. [url=http://www.packersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-alex-green-jersey-kh-19... Green Jersey . The Nigeria international approached Mark Clattenburg after the match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 28, having been wrongly informed by a teammate that the ref had racially abused him. . The 38-year-old was designated for assignment. The 2009 World Series MVP for the New York Yankees was batting .147 with two homers and seven RBIs and was hitless in his last 16 trips to the plate. [url=http://www.packersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-eddie-lacy-jersey-we-91... . -- New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with free agent linebacker David Hawthorne. [url=http://www.packersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-morgan-burnett-jersey-g... Burnett Jersey .Y. -- A person familiar with discussions has told The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills and potential free-agent receiver Stevie Johnson have exchanged contract offers and plan to meet again at the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week. . PETERSBURG, Fla.SEATTLE -- B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings to help the Tampa Bay Rays to their season-high seventh consecutive win, 4-1 over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. Cobb (7-8) allowed a run and four hits. He struck out five and walked two in his fourth consecutive quality start and third consecutive win. His ERA is 1.93 over his last four outiings. [url=http://www.packersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-bart-starr-jersey-yl-81... Starr Jersey. . Fernando Rodney record his major league-leading 37th save in 38 tries by pitching a scoreless ninth that extended his club record to 22 consecutive saves. The Rays have won 10 of their last 12. Seattles Blake Beavan (7-7) pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs. Beavan allowed all four runs on five hits in the third inning. ' ' '