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Michael “Bling” Matthews victorious in 9th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

Boivin top Canadian for second year in a row

September 7, 2018
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Third last year and runner-up in 2015, Australian Michael “Bling” Matthews of Sunweb claimed the title of Friday’s 9th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. The race was the first of the Laurentian Classics–the GP Cyclist de Montréal running on Thursday–and the third from last WorldTour one-day race.

The Course

The less taxing of the two Laurentian Classics, the GP Québec consisted of 16 laps of a 12.6-km circuit around the city. There were four climbs in the latter half of each lap: Côte de la Montagne, 375-metres of 10 percent; Côte de la Potasse, 420-metres of 9 percent; Montée de la Fabrique, 190-metres of 7 percent, and the drive home to the line, Montée du Fort, 1-km of 4 percent.

In the last edition Peter Sagan won his second title in a row, but the triple world champion was at the Vuelta a España on Friday. In fact, the only previous winner in the field was Mitchelton-Scott’s Simon Gerrans, the 2012 and 2014 champion.

Opening Laps

There was a trio of Canucks in the fugitive quintet that dashed away on the opening loops. After 25-km, they had a 6:30 advantage over the bunch, a gap maintained after seven laps.

Alexander Cataford kept picking up KOM points on the Cote des Glacis. Behind, Sunweb and BMC did most of the pacemaking.

A loose dog caused havoc in the peloton, causing Movistar rider Nuno Bico of Portugal to crash out of the race.

As the race headed into its final third, Bahrain-Merida took up the reins. With 50-km to go and the gap 3:00, Astana upped the pace, Jakob Fuglsang doing the yeoman’s job in the third from last circuit. Up ahead the break started to crumble.

Endgame

With the break within touching distance, Peter Kennaugh of Bora-Hansgrohe, Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu and James Piccoli of Team Canada all attacked.

But it was Kennaugh who reached the remains of the escape, Canadians Britton and Langlois. In the penultimate lap, Kennaugh went solo, taking a 21-second lead into the last lap. Six chasers including Gaudu and Fuglsang lit out after him. With 7-km to go the chasers were brought to heel, as Trek and BMC pulled the field.

Kennaugh shot under the red kite with a slim lead, but was snagged with 600-metres to go, Roman Kreuziger leading the way. Matthews had the power to rip clear of his rivals through the middle and hang on for the victory, his 32nd as a pro. Greg Van Avermaet was runner-up for the third consecutive year and fourth edition overall. Jasper Stuyven rounded out the podium.

For the second year running, Guillaume Boivin was the best placed Canadian at 21st.

9th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
1) Michael Matthews (Australia/Sunweb) 5:04:17
2) Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium/BMC) s.t.
3) Jasper Stuyven (Belgium/Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
21) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Israel Cycling Academy) s.t.
38) Ben Perry (Canada/Israel Cycling Academy) +0:07
41) James Piccoli (Canada/Team Canada) s.t.
42) Ryan Anderson (Canada/Rally) s.t.
76) Bruno Langlois (Canada/Team Canada) +1:35
83) Pier-André Coté (Canada/Team Canada) +2:01
100) Rob Britton (Canada/Rally) +3:37
101) Adam Roberge (Canada/Team Canada) s.t.
112) Nigel Ellsay (Canada/Rally) 5:08
118) Alexander Cataford (Canada/Team Canada) +9:32
121) Adam de Vos (Canada/Rally) s.t.
123) Hugo Houle (Canada/Astana) +9:35