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Mardis Cyclistes Stage 6 Report, Results, Photos – Houle Scores

by John Symon

Hugo Houle at the finish  ©  Pasquale Stalteri
July 15, 2014 (Lachine, QC) – Hugo Houle (AG2R La Mondiale) won the stage six of the 37th season of the Mardis Cyclistes presented by Jean Coutu with a time of 1:01:30 over 50 km, giving an average speed of 48.7 km/h. Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Quebecor) was only half-a-wheel`s length behind him in second while Jean-François Laroche (Fantino-Mandello) followed in third.

“It was more difficult without any teammates with me,” admitted Houle. “So I stayed on the wheel of Simon until the last turn and then I snapped out to beat him. I trained hard for the past few weeks and I knew I was in good shape. I am leaving on Monday to join my team in France before the Tour de Wallonie (July 26 to 30) and the Eneco Tour (August 11 to 17).”

There were 84 riders on the start line, including professional cyclists with European teams, such as Antoine Duchesne (Europcar) and Houle.

In the general classification (GC), Lambert-Lemay is again in the lead with 512 cumulative points; he will be wearing the yellow jersey (sponsored by Jean Coutu) next Tuesday. He is followed by his teammate, Pierrick Naud with 499 points, who will be wearing the red (Specialized-Quilicot) jersey next week. Steven Keeping (Transport Lacombe), who has 444 points, will be wearing the green (Desjardins caisse populaire Provost Lachine) jersey on July 22.

Among the women, Catherine Dessureault (SAS-Mazda-Magocep) won the 24 km race, followed by Marie Soleil Blais (Realdealgears) and by Audrey Bernard (Stevens the Cyclery) in third. However, it is Adriane Provost (SAS-Mazda) who leads the GC with 247 points followed by Bernard with 202.

Among the cadets, Thierry Kirouac Marcassa (NCCH) won the 24 km race with a time of 34:22. Francis Barriault (CCB Ultimate Bike) came in second, followed by Griffin Schwartz (independent) in third. Kirouac Marcassa also leads the GC with 251 items versus 180 for Schwartz. There was a major crash on the final straightaway involving a rider Rossi CC-Lac St-Louis who had to be evacuated by ambulance.

As for minimes, Robin Plamondon (Espoirs Laval) cinched victory on the boys’ side with a time of 11:39 over 16 km, but it is Antoine Dalterio (Espoirs Laval) who leads the GC with 326 points against 311 for Plamondon. Among the girls, Sandrine Heroux (CWB-Ultimate Bike) won first place and will be wearing  yellow \next week, even if she and teammate Emma Delisle are tied, both with 298 points.

Despite a grim weather forecast for thunderstorms, the weather was nice with dry pavement and almost no wind.

The Mardis Cyclistes are presented every Tuesday until August 12, evening of the grand finale which closes the 37th season of this sporting event. The series includes ten (10) stages of races spread out over 10 weeks. The circuit of the Mardis Cyclistes is located around in Lasalle Park in the Montreal borough of Lachine (STM bus 90). The minimes race starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the cadets and women, (6 p.m.), and then culminating with the Pro-Elite men at 6:50 p.m. The races are free for spectators.

Results

1. Hugo Houle (AG2R-La Mondiale)
2. Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Québecor)
3. Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello/Cycles Régis)





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