July 22, 2018 (Val-d’Or, QC) – Team Canada’s Riley Pickrell, 16, earned his third victory winning the final Stage 7 from Senneterre to Val-d’Or, 120km, as American Riley Sheehan defended the Brown Jersey becoming only the fourth rider ever to win the Tour for the second consecutive year.
With his triumph, Sheehan becomes only the fourth cyclist in the history of the Tour to defend his brown jersey successfully. Quebecker Éric Van den Eynde (1971-1972), American Mark Frise (1978-1979) and Bobby Julich (1988- 1989), also from the United States, are the other three.
“This year’s win is more significant. This was my season goal. You plan and train every single moment for the race, and at the race it happens. It’s amazing when everything falls in the right place and comes together. This event is the highlight of my career.”
After finishing 18th in the first race of the week, Sheehan reached the top-5 in each of the next six stages. He won the fourth stage on Thursday afternoon and placed third in three others.
“I just have to give it to my team, honestly. One person alone cannot win this race. It’s a full team effort. From stage one, the team was there for me”, Sheehan said.
Pickrell, only 16 years old, easily won the orange jersey for the overall points standings. He completed the week with 158 points, 24 more than Japanese Taisei Hino.
“The points standings means a lot because it’s a method for me to strive for something after my incident on stage 2 when I punctured. It gave me something else to root for and something to keep our team motivated and to drive for,” said Pickrell.
Canadian Conor Martin won the polka dot jersey as the best climber while Garrison was awarded the blue jersey as the best young rider among participants born in 2001 and 2002.
Montreal’s Robin Plamondon was the best Quebecer finishing in 11th place, 64 seconds behind the winner.
The organizers of le Tour cycliste de l’Abitibi rewarded the best cyclists of the 50th edition during the Hécla Québec Award Ceremony held Sunday night at Théâtre Télébec.
In addition to the winners of the four jerseys the organizers honored seven individuals and two teams – here’s the list of winners :
– Riley Sheehan (United States – brown jersey, overall standings)
– Riley Pickrell (Canada – orange jersey, points classification)
– Conor Martin (Canada – polka dot jersey, best climber)
– Michael Garrison (United States – blue jersey, best first year junior),
– Team Challenge: United States
– Best Revelation: Antonin Corvaisier, Team France
– Most Gentleman rider: Sam Cook, Team Desjardins Ford
– Most courageous rider: Caleb Bender, Team Nova Scotia
– Best Team Spirit: Team Japan
– Best Coach: Barney King, Team United States
– Best Mechanic: Mark Bush, Team Vantaggio
– Most combative rider: Riley Pickrell, Canada
– Best Abitibi-born rider: Simon Dubuc, Team Québec
Results
1. Riley Pickrell (Can) Team Canada 2.37:37
2. Taisei Hino (Jpn) Team Japan
3. Yoshiaki Fukuda (Jpn) Team Japan
4. Riley Sheehan (USA) Team USA
5. Ryan Jastrab (USA) Alterra Home Loans Cycling Team
6. Joel Domingue (Can) Team Quebec
7. Tyler Reynolds (USA) Colorado Select p/b Brac and Stages
8. Robin Plamondon (Can) Team Canada
9. Matthew Jogodnik (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team
10. Andre Gagnon (Can) Nova Scotia
11. Bastien Bodnar (Fra) Sélection SCO-Dijon
12. Dalton Collins (USA) Northstar Development Cycling
13. Aidan Carter (USA) CT Cycling Advancement Program
14. Callum Walsh (Nzl) Team California
15. Daniel Nordeman Da Silva (Can) Team Ontario
16. Ethan Overson (USA) Vantaggio Fitness and Nutrition
17. Cedric Beaulieu (Can) Ottawa Bicycle Club
18. Dominic Falter (USA) Northstar Development Cycling
19. Sean Quinn (USA) Team USA
20. Judah Gustafson (USA) Northstar Development Cycling
Final GC
1. Riley Sheehan (USA) Team USA 14:05:15
2. Kendrick Boots (USA) Team USA 0:19
3. Michael Garrison (USA) Team USA
4. Sam Cook (Nzl) Desjardins Ford p/b Cromwell 0:22
5. Taisei Hino (Jpn) Team Japan 0:33
6. Sean Quinn (USA) Team USA 0:38
7. Tom Mainguenaud (Fra) Team France 0:42
8. Burnie Mcgrath (Nzl) Team New Zealand 0:53
9. Antonin Corvaisier (Fra) Team France 0:59
10. Conor Martin (Can) TaG Cycling Race Team 1:02
11. Robin Plamondon (Can) Team Canada 1:04
12. Madi Hartley-Brown (Nzl) Team New Zealand
13. Tristan Jussaume (Can) Team Canada 1:06
14. Ethan Sittlington (Can) Team Ontario 1:07
15. Drew Christensen (Nzl) Team New Zealand 1:08
16. Sean Guydish (USA) Young Medalists 1:09
17. Noah Costar (Nzl) Team New Zealand 1:10
18. Nicolas Rivard (Can) Espoirs Elite – Primeau Velo 1:20
19. Joel Domingue (Can) Team Quebec
20. Yoshiaki Fukuda (Jpn) Team Japan 1:24
Full results here.