September 07, 2012 (Quebec City, QC) – It’s sunny and about 25 degrees with big crowds for the start of the GP Cycliste Quebec City UCI WorldTour now underway taking place over 16 laps of a 12.6km circuit in downtown Québec City for a total of 201.6km. The course will favour riders who can accelerate decisively on steep, punchy climbs, such as the Côte de la Montagne which reaches 13% at some points.
The field is stacked with top international riders here for both WorldTours while preparing for the UCI Road World Championships taking place in later this month Sept. 15-23 in Limburg, Netherlands. On the start line are big names like Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar, Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale, RadioShack’s Andy Schleck (Lux) and Levi Leipheimer (USA), Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team and more – Voeckler won here and Da Costa won in Montreal.
For Canada Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo) leads the way with Michael Barry (Team Sky), David Veilleux (Europcar), Dominique Rollin (FDJ) along with SpiderTech p/b C10, Canada’s first Pro Conti team, with Guillaume Boivin, Francois Parisien, Will Routley, Martin Gilbert and many others…
Lap 1
The peloton is off for a great day of racing in Quebec City. Spidertech Powered by C10 is already in action, trying to put riders in the early breakaway.
Four riders have 10 seconds: Guillaume Boivin (Spidertech Powered by C10), Sebastian Salas (Team Canada) and two other riders from Astana and Française des Jeux.
François Parisien is on the ground. Nothing seems too serious at the moment.
Parisien (Spidertech Powered by C10) is fighting his way back as a group of about 25 riders are trying to distance themselves from the main field. Hugo Houle is among that group of riders.
Parisien is back. Not exactly the kind of start one hopes for…but these things happen.
Lap 2
A group of 8 riders is off the front with about 35 seconds – 178km remaining – there’s still a long way to go.
In the break are 2 Movistar riders, 1 Saxo Bank, 1 Lotto Bistol, 1 AG2R, 1 Rabobank, 1 RadioShack and 1 Liquigas.
The peloton is stretched out behind . It’s been a crazy fast beginning of race.
Four riders have joined the lead group so now there are 12 strong at the front.
Unfortunately, there is no Canadian in that lead bunch.
There are several groups on the road at the moment. No doubt that the riders are not here for holidays. Lots of action makes it hard to follow sometimes… but, of course, no one will complain. 🙂
Sebastian Salas (Team Canada) has joined the lead group. They are about 18 riders, at the moment at the front as more have joined the leaders as the peloton is catching its breath.
A group of 25 is off the front now with about 40 seconds. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) is among that group that includes Antoine Duchesne (Team Canada). It seems this could be the breakaway of the day as a lot of the main teams are well represented within it.
Laps 4-5
17 min 42 seconds was the time of the 4th lap. The speed is still pretty intense.
The peloton has regrouped.
Gusev (Katusha) and Rohregger (Radioshack) are trying to get away.
Rohregger and Gusev have been joined by Danilo Wyss (BMC), Thomas Leezer (Rabobank) and Lucas Euser (Spidertech). They have bout 1 min 30 seconds.
This group is being chased down by three riders as the peloton enters the technical part of the course near Côte de la Montagne.
140km to go.
Lap 6
The riders have started the 6th lap so a total of 11 are remaining. The laps have all been covered in under 18 minutes since the start of the race.
The three riders are about to join the lead breakaway – Hugo Houle (Spidertech C10), Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux) and Marsh Cooper are in that group. There are about 5 seconds down.
The main bunch seems to be slowing down as it enters the feed zone – that should benefit to the lead group.
Lap 7
Seems like the breakaway has received its “accreditation to go” from the peloton as now the gap is 4-min 50 seconds.
Here are the riders in the breakaway (6 minutes and 10 seconds):
Hugo Houle (Spydertech), Caleb Fairly (Spydertech), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Thomas Rohregger (Radioshack), Vladimir Gusev (Katusha), Rob Britton (Team Canada), Danylo Wyss (BMC), and Sandy Casar (FDJ).
113 km to go…
Lap 8
The breakaway crosses the finish line in a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 19 seconds.
The main bunch seems to be waking up as all the riders are lined up now. The gap is down to 5 minutes and 10 seconds.
The breakaway riders are collaborating well together with more than a 100km are still remaining – they all seem comfortable and working as one unit.
Lap 9
We’re now half way into the race – the breakaway is still more than 5 minutes ahead of the pack.
96km to go…
Hesjedal is sitting at the back of the main bunch, very relaxed, as a few of his teammates are controlling in front. They are being helped by Europcar’s riders.
Lap 10
Correction – It’s Thomas Leezer (Rabobank) not Bram Tankink in the 8-man breakaway.
The lead is now down to 4 minutes and 36 seconds.
83km to go…
Without a doubt, this race is already a success for Spidertech as they have two riders in the break of the day of 8 men. The Canadian squad is showing strong commitment into achieving a World Tour level.
Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) is pulling the main bunch trying to reel in the break as riders are slowly getting dropped off the back.
Lap 11
Laps are still being completed in less than 18 minutes, so far, but the pace should only get higher with less than 75km remaining.
In the breakaway, FDJ’s Casar has been dropped which is surprising for a rider of his level. Could it be a team strategy, as he is not the protected rider for the FDJ?
They are now 7 men in the front.
67km to go… the best is yet to come!
Lap 12
Casar got back in the bunch and as been dropped. It seems like today is not his day.
5 laps are remaining. Garmin and Europcar are still pulling the main field at high speed.
58 km to…
So far, it’s very difficult to predict today’s winner. Only a few of the main teams have showed their colors. Quebec City is a race of patience where positioning is the key aspect for victory. With 60 km to go, a rider cannot really win the race, but he can surely lose it.
Lap 13
The breakaway is still working well together. The lead is of 2 minutes.
Behind, Boasson Hagen as abandonned.
There is a chase group in between the breakaway and the main field:
– David Veilleux (Europcar), Peter Stetina (Garmin), Manuel Quinziato (BMC) and Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol)
45.3 km to go
The lead of the breakaway is down to 1 minute and 18 seconds.
As their gap is slowly decreasing, the breakaway’s cooperation seems to slowly fade away. The result is that they are now 4 men remaining in that group.
Lap 14
Four men breakaway: Gusev, Wyss, Leezer and Euser – 39 seconds lead.
The main bunch is cut in half as Movistar is putting pressure in the front of that group.
37.5 km to go…
The four men break is battling for his life…
30.1 km to go… Movistar is in control at the front of the main bunch.
Breakaway is 20 seconds ahead.
Antoine Duchesne is getting dropped. What a race for this young promising Canadian rider.
Bruno Langlois (Team Canada) is attacking at the bottom of the La Côte de la Montagne. He is being joined by Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank). They now have a 10 seconds gap.
Lap 15
Two to go.
Peter Sagan is attacking. The peloton responds actively.
24 km to go…
What a race!
Langlois and Sorensen now have 21 seconds on the main field.
BMC are pulling at the front of the main peloton. The pace is still pretty high as many riders are getting dropped.
Two more climbs of the La Côte de la Montagne are remaining. There should be major damages in the upcoming minutes.
16 km to go…
The teams are positioning their leaders for this strategic climb.
The fans are on fire and screaming out loud.
Langlois and Sorensen are still leading.
Will they be joined by a few riders or caught up by the main bunch?
Lap 16
The final countdown
Langlois and Sorensen are being caught by a group of 10 riders. Veilleux is among that group. There is panic at the back, in the main field.
10.6km to go…
Veilleux is trying to go alone.
Dries Devenyns (Omega-Pharma) and Sorensen (Saxo Bank) have a 15-second lead as Veilleux is back in the main peloton.
Peter Sagan is surfing at the front.
Hesjedal (Garmin) will not be in contention for the win as he as droped from the main field.
4.4 km to go…
Everyone has re-grouped. What an epic final to come!
Gref Van Avermaet (BMC) and Simon Gerrans have a gap.
Sagan controls the head of the main field with Veilleux in his wheel.
He is putting the hammer down! No one can follow as Sagan slowly closes the gap to the two leaders.
Final K
Sagan ran out of gas as Gerrans took a great win in the streets of QC City!
All the riders fought until the end, but the strongest man won.
Congratulations to all Canadian riders and to Francois Parisien (SpiderTech) for his 1oth place position.
Thanks folks for following us in this epic day of racing.
See you in Montreal in two days.
Results
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 4:53:04
2. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
3. Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team 0:04
4. Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
5. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
6. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
7. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
8. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Sharp
9. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
10. Francois Parisien (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10
11. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
12. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team
13. Ben Hermans (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan
14. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Procycling
15. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
16. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
17. Miguel Minguez Ayala (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
18. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
19. David Tanner (Aus) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 8
20. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
21. Michael Barry (Can) Sky Procycling
22. Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
23. Ryan Roth (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10
24. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Esp) RadioShack-Nissan
25. Guillaume Boivin (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10
26. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
27. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:14
28. David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar
29. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
30. Bruno Langlois (Can) Team Canada
31. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
32. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
33. Sylvain Georges (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:16
34. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:21
35. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team 0:24
36. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:30
37. Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 0:32
38. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) KAT 0:34
39. Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 0:42
40. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team
41. Matthew Busche (USA) RadioShack-Nissan 0:45
42. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
43. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin-Sharp
44. Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
45. Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
46. Alex Dowsett (Gbr) Sky Procycling
47. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team
48. Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky Procycling
49. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team
50. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
51. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team
52. Rob Britton (Can) Team Canada 1:00
53. Nic Hamlton (Can) Team Canada
54. Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-ISD 1:05
55. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 1:26
56. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
57. Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
58. Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
59. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team
60. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 1:40
61. Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 1:47
62. Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Procycling
63. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-ISD
64. Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre-ISD
65. Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
66. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
67. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ-Big Mat
68. Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
69. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
70. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
71. Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
72. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
73. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
74. Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
75. Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
76. Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar 2:03
77. Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale 2:35
78. Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
79. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 2:48
80. Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
81. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team
82. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp 3:22
83. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 3:34
84. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 4:03
85. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 4:41
86. Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
87. Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale
88. Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
89. Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
90. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
91. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Esp) Rabobank Cycling Team
92. Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
93. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
94. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp 5:18
95. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
96. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Sharp
97. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
98. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha Team 5:31
99. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 6:24
100. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Esp) Movistar Team
101. Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
102. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
103. Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC Racing Team 8:51
104. Lucas Euser (USA) SpiderTech p/b C10
105. Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
106. Timothy Duggan (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale
107. Brian Vandborg (Den) SpiderTech p/b C10 9:57
108. Ryan Anderson (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10
109. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Team Canada 0:13:56
110. Hugo Houle (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10 0:18:59
111. Martin Gilbert (Can) SpiderTech p/b C10
DNF Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp
DNF Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin-Sharp
DNF Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin-Sharp
DNF Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar
DNF Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
DNF José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Jesus Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Enrique Sanz (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
DNF Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Sky Procycling
DNF Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Edward King (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Moreno Moser (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Juraj Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
DNF Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
DNF Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha Team
DNF Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team
DNF Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha Team
DNF Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
DNF Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
DNF Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
DNF Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Maarten Neyens (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
DNF Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling Team
DNF George Bennett (Nzl) RadioShack-Nissan
DNF Benjamin King (USA) RadioShack-Nissan
DNF Thomas Rohregger (Aut) RadioShack-Nissan
DNF Jorge Azanza Soto (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Peio Bilbao (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Alan Perez Lezaun (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-ISD
DNF Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Lampre-ISD
DNF Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
DNF Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre-ISD
DNF Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF Martin Mortensen (Den) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
DNF Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
DNF Romain Lemarchand (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
DNF Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
DNF Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
DNF Marsh Cooper (Can) Team Canada
DNF Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Can) Team Canada
DNF Sebastian Salas (Can) Team Canada
DNF Charly Vives (Can) Team Canada
