diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e464c4450..72d83d584 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ before_script:
   CLUSTER_MODE: ha
   BOOTSTRAP_OS: coreos
 
-# Builds for PRs only (auto)
+# Builds for PRs only (auto) and triggers (auto)
 coreos-calico-sep:
   stage: deploy-gce-part1
   <<: *job
@@ -214,6 +214,16 @@ coreos-calico-sep:
   except: ['triggers']
   only: [/^pr-.*$/]
 
+coreos-calico-sep-triggers:
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
+  <<: *job
+  <<: *gce
+  variables:
+    <<: *gce_variables
+    <<: *coreos_calico_sep_variables
+  when: on_success
+  only: ['triggers']
+
 centos7-flannel:
   stage: deploy-gce-part2
   <<: *job
@@ -225,6 +235,16 @@ centos7-flannel:
   except: ['triggers']
   only: [/^pr-.*$/]
 
+centos7-flannel-triggers:
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
+  <<: *job
+  <<: *gce
+  variables:
+    <<: *gce_variables
+    <<: *centos7_flannel_variables
+  when: on_success
+  only: ['triggers']
+
 ubuntu-weave-sep:
   stage: deploy-gce-special
   <<: *job
@@ -236,6 +256,16 @@ ubuntu-weave-sep:
   except: ['triggers']
   only: [/^pr-.*$/]
 
+ubuntu-weave-sep-triggers:
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
+  <<: *job
+  <<: *gce
+  variables:
+    <<: *gce_variables
+    <<: *ubuntu_weave_sep_variables
+  when: on_success
+  only: ['triggers']
+
 # More builds for PRs/merges (manual) and triggers (auto)
 debian8-canal-ha:
   stage: deploy-gce-part1
@@ -291,7 +321,7 @@ debian8-calico:
   only: ['master', /^pr-.*$/]
 
 debian8-calico-triggers:
-  stage: deploy-gce-part2
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
   <<: *job
   <<: *gce
   variables:
@@ -312,7 +342,7 @@ coreos-canal:
   only: ['master', /^pr-.*$/]
 
 coreos-canal-triggers:
-  stage: deploy-gce-part2
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
   <<: *job
   <<: *gce
   variables:
@@ -333,7 +363,7 @@ rhel7-canal-sep:
   only: ['master', /^pr-.*$/,]
 
 rhel7-canal-sep-triggers:
-  stage: deploy-gce-special
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
   <<: *job
   <<: *gce
   variables:
@@ -354,7 +384,7 @@ centos7-calico-ha:
   only: ['master', /^pr-.*$/]
 
 centos7-calico-ha-triggers:
-  stage: deploy-gce-special
+  stage: deploy-gce-part1
   <<: *job
   <<: *gce
   variables:
diff --git a/tests/cloud_playbooks/create-gce.yml b/tests/cloud_playbooks/create-gce.yml
index f5a0be573..9ad0deb04 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_playbooks/create-gce.yml
+++ b/tests/cloud_playbooks/create-gce.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   become: false
   gather_facts: no
   vars:
-    cloud_machine_type: n1-standard-1
+    cloud_machine_type: g1-small
     mode: default
 
   tasks:
diff --git a/tests/cloud_playbooks/delete-gce.yml b/tests/cloud_playbooks/delete-gce.yml
index 5f9676b36..ee0ffad18 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_playbooks/delete-gce.yml
+++ b/tests/cloud_playbooks/delete-gce.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
   become: false
   gather_facts: no
   vars:
-    cloud_machine_type: f1-micro
     mode: default
 
   tasks:
@@ -22,8 +21,6 @@
     - name: delete gce instances
       gce:
         instance_names: "{{instance_names}}"
-        machine_type: "{{ cloud_machine_type }}"
-        preemptible: yes
         image: "{{ cloud_image }}"
         service_account_email: "{{ gce_service_account_email }}"
         pem_file: "{{ gce_pem_file | default(omit)}}"