Gallery: Sagan takes popular win with Old Quebec City as the backdrop for a stunning race

Quebec City was the scene of an exciting race

Nicolas Masbourian in the breakaway at the top of Rue Des Glacis. Photo: Philippe Tremblay

The peloton on Côte de la Montagne. Photo: Philippe Tremblay

The breakaway on one of 16 passages of the Côte de la Montagne

Different teams contributed to the pace throughout the race. Christian Meier was at the front for much of the first half of the race

Lars Bak was the last survivor from the days breakaway

Sagan wasn't always at the head of affairs, on the Côte de la Montagne he was last wheel in the peloton

Julien Alaphilippe launched a late attack with teammate Matteo Trentin and Team Sky's Gianni Moscon

Antoine Duchesne rides in the peloton

Peter Sagan's adoring fans cheered him on as he made the win almost look easy

Sagan was a popular winner for the seventh edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec

Gianni Moscon launched a late attack that netted him the mountains classification

Guillaume Boivin was the top Canadian finishing in 16th at the GP Montreal

When world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) roared to the head of the race in the final meters of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, the crowd enthusiastically cheered on one of the most popular riders in the professional peloton. Sagan made the win look easy, charging up the right-hand side of the road around Anthony Roux (FDJ) who opened up the sprint early and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) who sprinted to second place. Last year’s winner, Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) launched a late attacked but was caught on the gradual drag up the Grande-Allée.

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Canadians were active from the start of the race with Nicolas Masbourian representing Team Canada in the days breakaway of eight and fighting for points in climbing classification. His Silber Pro Cycling teammate also racing in the national jersey was stuck in no-mans land as he tried to bridge but the attempt was unsuccessful and the Redlands Classic winner would abandon the race. Christian Meier spent much of the first half of the race tirelessly working for his Orica-BikeExchange teammates while Guillaume Boivin (Team Canada) made an emphatic return to racing following an injury to finish 17th behind his former teammate. National road champion Bruno Langlois (Team Canada) and Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie) would both roll in with the peloton a handful of seconds behind Sagan as did Ryder Hesjedal who finished 20th. David Drouin (Team Canada) who was one of the youngest riders in the peloton at 21-years old had an extremely solid ride coming in 21-seconds behind the winner in 44th.