September 10, 2011 (Quebec City, QC) – With a festive spirit that is so uniquely Quebecois, the Grand Prix kicked off under perfect blue skies, temperatures of 23 Celsius, and a breeze that could turn gusty on the straight-away into the finish. One hundred and seventy-two riders from 22 teams, including Canada’s Team Spidertech P/B C10,  commenced the 201.6 km race with two killer climbs under the watchful eye of the Quebec legislature and tens of thousands of fans. If ever there was an excuse to linger all day at the cafes and parks that lined the course, this was it. The 12.1km course provided wicked descents, and steep curving climbs, the only redeeming quality of which is that they are not too long.

After 5:03:08 it was Belgium champion Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) who took the win and the overall lead in the UCI World Rankings. Dutch racer Robert Gesink (Rabobank), winner of the inaugural GPC Montreal, contested the sprint with Gilbert finishing three seconds back. Sky Procycling’s Rigoberto Uran of Columbia took third at 8 seconds back.

Another 6s behind in fourth was Germany’s Fabian Wegmann (Leopard Trek) with recent winner of the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) in fifth at 15s. The top Canadian was Team Sky’s Michael Barry who finished 14th at 1:23 minutes behind Gilbert. Of the 172 starters only 76 finished – many looking to save their legs for Sunday’s second World Tour race on the Mount Royal circuit in Montreal.

“It was a very, very difficult race today,” said Gilbert. “There was a strong tempo from the start. We were doing 60km along the river – everyone was doing 60 km.” The Belgium champion said the fact that he was riding without a team was problematic. “I chose to run on my own and was pretty stressed out about it. Because of the pace, if I started [to attack] too early like Svein [Tuft] did, well it would be impossible.”

But Gilbert soon relaxed after he realized he was feeling good, despite the pace. When Rabobank attacked with five laps to go, they opened up an opportunity for him as the pack started to shatter. There were a number of tactics used after this, including a sustained effort by Garmin-Cervelo on the front that reduced the field even further. It all worked to Gilbert’s advantage as he attacked several times establishing a group of ten riders with two laps to go.

“I knew there were only six points to take the Classic overall title, and as the race went on, things kept getting better,” said Gilbert. “I knew with ten guys in the final that I could be fourth or fifth and the six points would be secured. For me the number one ranking – and I’m not sure it’s completely achieved [because there are more races] is the icing, not the cake after a great season. I’ll probably end the season number one – what more can you ask for?” Gilbert has had an incredible season also winning Amstel Gold, Fleche-Wallone, and San Sebastian among others.

Gesink, who won at Mount Royal in 2010, felt the race did not have the speed he was expecting. “After the Tour [de France] I was focused on the end of the season and this is the start of these races. I am happy with the results but the beginning the race was a bit too slow for me. The break had eight minutes.”

Gesink was referring to that early break on the first lap that included Spain’s Jesus Herrada Lopez of Movistar, French rider Tony Hurel of Europcar, and Italian Cristiano Salerno of Liquigas-Cannondale. Rabobank’s attack with five laps to go, as Gilbert noted, was the decisive attack determining the final results.

At 151.2km into the race [with about 50km to go] Herrada Lopez was the only rider left of lead group with a 13-second lead. Then Rabobank tried to break away after a tight descent leading out of the steep downtown climb but they were reeled in. This move set off a series of jumps, each one of which caused more and more riders to drop off the back.

Herrada was swallowed up as Garmin-Cervelo sent one rider out after another, continuing to push the pace. Five kilometres later, on the flats by the St. Lawrence, Sky’s Barry moved to the front while Rabobank came up on the left side of the peloton. As the group hit the narrow streets of downtown, Garmin-Cervelo’s Christian Vandevelde jumped on one of the steep killer hills.

As the riders passed the finish line, the two groups became one serious group  with Dutch rider Andy Engels pushing the pace and establishing a 15-second gap. Vandevelde quickly chased and got on his wheel, while seven riders behind struggled to chase. The main pack became even more splintered as riders dropped out, but Pro Team Astana pulled the remaining group up to the break.

Two Sky riders attacked after this which brought the group into the climbs in the downtown core once more, but it was Quick Step’s Matteo Trenent who benefitted from these moves as he established a solo break. Trenent, who recently signed with the Quickstep Pro Team, won the “most compative rider” award. Movistar’s Rui Alberto Faris went after him while Barry led the field in the chase. Trenent and Faris pulled together with three laps to go, but the chase was unrelenting. SpiderTech’s Svein Tuft took over along with help from Radioshack’s Leipheimer. Tuft used up his legs too soon, placing 39th while Canadians Dominique Rollin(FDJ), David Veilleux (Europcar), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo), and Ryan Roth (SpiderTech p/b C10) placed 20th, 22nd, 27th, and 40th consecutively.

As the top Canuck Barry said that they went in the race to support three possible leaders – Uran, Simon Gerrans and Edvald Bosson Hagen. “We knew it would be our responsibility to control things, but when Rabobank attacked with five laps to go, our plans changed.” Barry said their team had planned on attacking with three laps left. “We can be happy with third place and it was up to the rest of us to keep the field from reaching Uran.”

By the time the field descended to the flats of the St. Lawrence River on the final lap there were ten riders away. But there was still one more time up the steep downtown hills and the pack was still a threat. Gilbert was unrelenting, jumping on the climb before the descent to the St. Lawrence establishing a solo break. As the race hit the wider flats, Radioshack’s Leipheimer initiated the chase to Gilbert. Eight riders were strung out behind. Gilbert continued to look strong, but Leipheimer pulled the chase group up to him. Then Gesink counter-attacked, which was a signal for Gilbert to initiate yet another sprint – not only on the climbs but the flatter sections through the downtown. But the wily Belgian was swallowed by the field and sat in, waiting for the opportunity to attack again.

That opportunity came as they climbed the steep hills near the Chateau Frontenac. “I waited for the climb,” Gilbert revealed. Only Gesink could respond. Once they entered the flatter downtown roads, the other eight riders tried to bridge, but either Gilbert or Gesink would increase the pace to keep their lead.

The two riders faced the straightaway leading to the finish and Gilbert admitted he still didn’t know that that he could win. “Robert [Gesink] was behind. Riders see you as a target – something to catch when you are ahead. I went at 700 metres, but I stayed calm and waited. Then I went again. I knew with 100 metres to go that I had the victory and could finally relax.”

Results

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto  5:03:08
2. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
3. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling  0:00:09
4. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard Trek  0:00:14
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack  0:00:15
6. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  0:00:23
7. Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
8. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  0:00:25
9. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team  0:00:30
10. Simon Clarke (Aus) Pro Team Astana  0:00:47
11. Rui Alberto Faria Costa (Por) Movistar Team  0:01:17
12. Grégory Rast (Sui) Team RadioShack  0:01:19
13. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team  0:01:21
14. Michael Barry (Can) Sky Procycling  0:01:23
15. Mikel Astarloza (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
16. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto  0:01:26
17. Rémi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
18. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quickstep Cycling Team
19. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Procycling
20. Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ  
21. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Movistar Team
22. David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar  
23. Anders Lund (Den) Leopard Trek
24. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
25. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar
26. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
27. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo  0:01:39
28. Rubén Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team  0:01:42
29. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
30. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ  0:01:57
31. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ  0:02:10
32. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling  0:02:18
33. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank Sungard
34. Michael Mørkøv (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard
35. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team
36. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team RadioShack
37. Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha Team
38. Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
39. Svein Tuft (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10  
40. Ryan Roth (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10  
41. Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek
42. Francesco Reda (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team
43. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling Team
44. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Saxo Bank Sungard  0:02:28
45. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
46. Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Esp) Movistar Team  0:03:12
47. Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
48. Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ
49. Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Pro Team Astana
50. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) HTC-Highroad  0:03:24
51. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ  0:04:04
52. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
53. David Arroyo Duran (Esp) Movistar Team  0:04:25
54. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team  0:04:37
55. Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
56. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo  0:04:43
57. Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD  0:05:12
58. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team  0:05:40
59. Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
60. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
61. Sergey Renev (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
62. Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
63. Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
64. Edward King (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale
65. Julien Vermote (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
66. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
67. Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ
68. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
69. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ
70. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Omega Pharma-Lotto
71. Saïd Haddou (Fra) Team Europcar
72. Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) HTC-Highroad
73. Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
74. Timothy Duggan (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale
75. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  0:09:28
76. Jesús Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team  0:12:23
DNF  Bart De Clercq (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
DNF  Maarten Neyens (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
DNF  Óscar Pujol Muñoz (Esp) Omega Pharma-Lotto
DNF  Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
DNF  Sven Vandousselaere (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
DNF  Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Esp) Sky Procycling
DNF  Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) Sky Procycling
DNF  Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling
DNF  Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF  Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF  Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF  Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  Peter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
DNF  Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Mikel Landa Meana (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Miguel Minguez Ayala (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Alan Perez Lezaun (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Iván Velasco Murillo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF  Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard Trek
DNF  Brice Feillu (Fra) Leopard Trek
DNF  Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard Trek
DNF  Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Leopard Trek
DNF  Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Thimothy Roe (Aus) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
DNF  Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Caleb Fairly (USA) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Patrick Gretsch (Ger) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Gatis Smukulis (Lat) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Danny Pate (USA) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Marco Pinotti (Ita) HTC-Highroad
DNF  Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF  David Loosli (Sui) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Enrico Magazzini (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre – ISD
DNF  Laurent Didier (Lux) Saxo Bank Sungard
DNF  Jesús Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Saxo Bank Sungard
DNF  Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Saxo Bank Sungard
DNF  André Steensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard
DNF  Brian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard
DNF  Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Team RadioShack
DNF  Ben Hermans (Bel) Team RadioShack
DNF  Robert Hunter (RSA) Team RadioShack
DNF  Benjamin King (USA) Team RadioShack
DNF  Jason McCartney (USA) Team RadioShack
DNF  Mauro Finetto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF  Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF  Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF  Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF  Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha Team
DNF  Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Katusha Team
DNF  Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF  Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF  Egor Silin (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF  Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF  Allan Davis (Aus) Pro Team Astana
DNF  Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
DNF  Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
DNF  Javier Iriarte (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF  Enrique Sanz (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF  Addy Engels (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team
DNF  Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team
DNF  Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  Martin Elmiger (Sui) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF  Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF  Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF  Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF  Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF  Tony Hurel (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF  Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF  Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ
DNF  Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF  Jean-Eudes Demaret (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF  Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF  Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF  Francois Parisien (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
DNF  Ryan Anderson (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
DNF  Zachary Bell (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
DNF  Martin Gilbert (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
DNF  Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
DNF  Will Routley (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10