Matthews sweeps Laurentian Classics with Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal triumph
Repeats feat of compatriot Simon Gerrans in 2014
Australian Michael Matthews of Sunweb became the first rider to sweep both Laurentian Classics races since Simon Gerrans in 2014, as he took Sunday’s Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal two days after winning the GP Cycliste de Québec. Attacks on the final two laps failed to stay clear, so 30-riders sprinted it out. Only a single one-day WorldTour race remains after the Montréal contest: Il Lombardia on October 13.
#GPCQM He's done it again! @blingmatthews wins the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal! #KeepChallenging pic.twitter.com/etqFoR4eA2
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) September 9, 2018
The Course
Riders faced 16 laps of a 12.3-km circuit, each of which held four climbs: Côte Camillen-Houde, 1.8-km of 8%; Côte de Polytechnique, 780-metres of 6 percent, and 200-metres at 11 percent; Claude-Champagne, 800-metres of 4 percent; and the finishing straight of Avenue du Parc, 560-metres of 4 percent.
Voici le parcours du Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2018. Here is the circuit of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. #gpcqm #montreal #uciworldtour #uci #velomtl pic.twitter.com/BFjZal6dkh
— GPCQM (@GPCQM) September 8, 2018
Last Season
Diego Ulissi (Italy/UAE-Emirates) was 2017’s winner, edging out Jesus Herrada, who just lost his red jersey on Saturday at the Vuelta a España. Ulissi was back, as was 2017’s third place finisher Tom-Jelte Slagter of Dimension Data.
Early Laps
Once more, Canadians were the breakaway, with Hugo Houle, Adam Roberge, Nigel Ellsay and the race’s youngest participant, Charles-etienne Chretien, in an escape quintet.
Try number two for the breakaway. pic.twitter.com/ceh0Vkwm1R
— Canadian Cycling Mag (@CanadianCycling) September 9, 2018
After two laps, @HugoHoule @owaindoull @NigelEllsay Chretien et @AdamRoberge lead the peloton by 3:40.
— GPCQM (@GPCQM) September 9, 2018
Sunweb, Lotto-Soudal and BMC did the majority of the pace making, with the gap a maximum of 5:45. Cretien fell back with five laps remaining. As the field closed in on the survivors, Tim Wellens attacked on a climb but it would be recent Binck Bank Tour and Deutschland Tour winner Matej Mohoric moving away from his rivals on the descent. The Slovenian and a Polish partner bridged to the breakaway with 28-km remaining.
The Finale
Soon more reinforcements arrived at the front, but Mohoric accelerated again and skipped away with two others. Heading into the bell lap, the trio held a 19-second gap. When it came to heel, first James Knox and then Wellens attacked. Jakob Fuglsang made it a new threesome out front, but once more the race came together.
The Avenue du Parc ascent would be crucial.
Flamme rouge, on se dirige vers un sprint à Montréal !#GPCQM pic.twitter.com/raGPxfKtQG
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) September 9, 2018
Once more it was Michael Matthews with the top gear, staying ahead of Sonny Colbrelli for his fourth victory of the season. Runner-up on Friday, Greg Van Avermaet rounded up Sunday’s podium. Ulissi placed seventh. Again, Guillaume Boivin proved the fastest Canadian in 19th.
2018 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
1) Michael Matthews (Australia/Sunweb) 5:19:27
2) Sonny Colbrelli (Italy/Bahrain-Merida) s.t.
3) Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC) s.t.
19) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Israel Cycling Academy) s.t.
49) Alexander Cataford (Canada/Team Canada) Ben Perry (Canada/Israel Cycling Academy) +1:58
58) James Piccoli (Canada/Team Canada) s.t.
59) Ryan Anderson (Canada/Rally) s.t.
63) Rob Britton (Canada/Rally) s.t.
