June 23, 2006 (Montreal, Quebec) – The second day of the Coupe de la Paix saw Gina Grain (Colavita/Cooking Light) win the women’s event while Sean Finning (southaustralia.com-AIS) won the men’s race.

Under an uncertain sky and a fierce wind, the women set off at 10 a.m. The 40-km race saw an unfortunate false start for Jennifer Stephenson (Biovail). The race was punctuated by several breakaways, but all of these were neutralized by the peloton, invariably led Merrill Collins (La Bicicletta) in the yellow jersey. Grain took advantage of her adversaries growing weariness and rode strategically, saving herself for the final sprint, which she won.

On Stage 2, the same athletes stepped onto the podium as at Stage 1, but this time Grain was first and Collins was second, reversing their positions from the previous day’s race, while Anne Samplonius (Biovail) picked up third place again. While Grain and Collins are tied in the standings the today’s winner, Grain, is now sporting the prized yellow jersey.

As the clock struck twelve, the men were off. By now the wind had slackened and the sun was breaking through the clouds. The men were going at a furious pace and, one by one, they tried to break away from the peloton, but without success. To the great pleasure of both spectators and cyclists, intermediate sprint primes spiced up the race.

The Australians, who dominated the front of the pack and were always in the thick of the action, won three out of five prime sprints and also picked up two out of three spots on the podium. Sean Finning won while teammate Wes Sulzerberger placed third. The two Australians will share the yellow jersey, but it’s Finning who will wear it on Saturday for Stage 3. Benjamin Martel (Sleeman Clear Énergie) was in second at Friday’s Stage 2 event.

Dominique Rollin (Vélo Club Roubaix), previously first in overall standings, slipped to third place after finishing seventh in Friday’s race. But Rollin is not throwing in the towel and promises that without the fluorescent yellow jersey he can be more discrete in his attacks to claim the next victory.

Saturday’s Stage 3 race will take place in the streets of Repentigny, a northeastern suburb of Montreal.

Men

1. Sean Finning (Aus) Australia 1:29:13
2. Benjamen Martel (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
3. Wes Sulzberger (Aus) Australia
4. Ryan Mackenzie (Can) Volkswagen-Trek
5. Ashley Hutchison (Aus) Australia
6. Dominique Rollin (Can) V.C. Roubaix
7. David Richter (USA) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm
8. Mark Pozniak (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers
9. Michel Détry (Can) Cycle Performance
10. Jeffrey Dirksen (Ned) J.V.R. de Betauwers
11. Alexandre Lavallée (Can) Garneau Optik
12. Sebastien Moquin (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
13. François Brunel (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
14. Eric Lyman (Can) Calyon-Litespeed
15. Charly Vives (Can) Calyon-Litespeed
16. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Garneau Optik
17. Jean-Sébastien Maheu (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
18. Aaron Fillion (Can) Ottawa B.C.
19. Pierre-Olivier Boily (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
20. Jean-François Fortin (Can) Cinelume-Cycles Performance
21. Vincent Caron (Can) Ski Vélo Vincent Renaud
22. Brandon Sant (Can) V-Com
23. Martin St-Laurent (Can) Volkswagen-Trek
24. Devon Smibert (Can) Synergie
25. Stephen Keeping (Can) Ottawa B.C.
26. Rob Van Bekkum (Ned) J.V.R. de Betauwers
27. Jean René Bélanger (Can) Volkswagen-Trek
28. Jean-François Racine (Can) Espoirs Laval
29. Keith Moore (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee
30. Clovis Auger (Can) Volkswagen-Trek
31. Ian Manning (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee
32. Philippe Abbott (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm
33. Dave Vukets (Can) Team R.A.C.E.
34. Hughes Lapointe (Can) Espoirs Laval
35. Alex De Korten (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers
36. Matt Guse (Can) Team R.A.C.E.
37. Robin Bolduc (Can) Vélo Sommet
38. Isaac Smith (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers 0:08
39. Yves Lefebvre (Can) CIBC Wood Gundy
40. Maxime Charbonneau (Can)
41. Sébastien Pilotte (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
42. Paul Migner (Can) CIBC Wood Gundy
43. Mathieu Roy (Can) Garneau Optik
44. Derek Mcmaster (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm
45. Cameron Hughes (Aus) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 0:15
46. Chris Saunders (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers
47. Darko Ficko (Can) La Bicicletta 0:30
48. Jean-Francois Gagné (Can) Rack Ultra
49. Stephen Wooldridge (Aus) Australia 0:38
50. Alexandre Nadeau (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 0:44
51. Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon-Litespeed 0:58
DNF Peter Dawson (Aus) Australia
DNF Michael Ford (Aus) Australia
DNF Alexandre Charest (Can) CIBC Wood Gundy
DNF Raphael Tremblay (Can) Volkswagen-Trek
DNF Osmond Bakker (Can) Independant
DNF Jeff Schiller (Can) Team R.A.C.E.
DNF Robert Brisson (Can) Sud-Ouest
DNF Peter Sanowar (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm
DNF Eric Boily (Can) Volkswagen-Trek

Women

1. Gina Grain (Can) Colavita/Cooking Light 1:00:05
2. Merrill Collins (Can) La Bicicletta
3. Anne Samplonius (Can) Biovail
4. Laura Yoisten (Can) Victory Brewing
5. Lisa Sweeney (Can) CPT- Colnago
6. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) D’amos
7. Emily Roy (Can) Indépendant
8. Jennifer Stephenson (Can) Biovail
9. Marie-Pier Bédard (Can) Espoirs Laval
10. Julie Marceau (Can) Marinoni
11. Joelle Numainville (Can) Biovail
12. Leah Wilson (Can) Cascades 1:53
13. Suzie Bélanger (Can) Cascades 2:04
14. Katy St-Laurent (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie
15. Jeneviève Gauthier (Can) Le Yeti
16. Jessica Burns (Can) Cascades
17. Veronique Labonté (Can) Cascades
18. Marie-Michele Richard (Can) Cascades 2:10
19. Vanessa Goodbehere (Can) Cascades 2:27

Overall

Men
1. Sean Finning (Aus) Australia 370 pts
2. Wes Sulzberger (Aus) Australia 370
3. Dominique Rollin (Can) V.C. Roubaix 350
4. Benjamen Martel (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 340
5. Alexandre Lavallée (Can) Garneau Optik 280
6. David Richter (USA) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 260
7. Mark Pozniak (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers 220
8. Eric Lyman (Can) Calyon-Litespeed 200
9. Ryan Mackenzie (Can) Volkswagen-Trek 200
10. François Brunel (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 190
11. Ashley Hutchison (Aus) Australia 165
12. Nicholas Rowe (Can) Espoirs Laval 160
13. Peter Dawson (Aus) Australia 140
14. Pierre-Olivier Boily (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 120
15. Michel Détry (Can) Cycle Performance 120
16. Jeffrey Dirksen (Ned) J.V.R. de Betauwers 115
17. Aaron Fillion (Can) Ottawa B.C. 110
18. Charly Vives (Can) Calyon-Litespeed 100
19. Sebastien Moquin (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 95
20. Martin Rooseboom (Can) Cycles Patrick 70
21. Mathieu Roy (Can) Garneau Optik 65
22. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Garneau Optik 55
23. Peter Sanowar (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 50
24. Jean-Sébastien Maheu (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 40
25. Hughes Lapointe (Can) Espoirs Laval 25
26. Jean-François Fortin (Can) Cinelume-Cycles Performance 10
27. Jeff Schiller (Can) Team R.A.C.E. 10
Isaac Smith (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers 10
Rob Van Bekkum (Ned) J.V.R. de Betauwers 10
Clovis Auger (Can) Volkswagen-Trek 10
Devon Smibert (Can) Synergie 10
Sébastien Pilotte (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 10
Derek Mcmaster (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 10
Cameron Hughes (Aus) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 10
Stephen Keeping (Can) Ottawa B.C. 10
Alexandre Nadeau (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 10
Keith Moore (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee 10
Dave Vukets (Can) Team R.A.C.E. 10
Ian Manning (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee 10
Matt Guse (Can) Team R.A.C.E. 10
Yves Lefebvre (Can) CIBC Wood Gundy 10
Stephen Wooldridge (Aus) Australia 10
Robin Bolduc (Can) Vélo Sommet 10
Darko Ficko (Can) La Bicicletta 10
Vincent Caron (Can) Ski Vélo Vincent Renaud 5
Ryan Belliveau (Can) Espoirs Laval 5
Brandon Sant (Can) V-Com 5
Martin St-Laurent (Can) Volkswagen-Trek 5
Jean René Bélanger (Can) Volkswagen-Trek 5
Raphael Tremblay (Can) Volkswagen-Trek 5
Jean-François Racine (Can) Espoirs Laval 5
Osmond Bakker (Can) Independant 5
Philippe Abbott (Can) Ital Pasta/Trans.Belm 5
Alex De Korten (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers 5
Michael Ford (Aus) Australia 5
Alistair Howard (Can) Espoirs Laval 5
Maxime Charbonneau (Can) 5
Paul Migner (Can) CIBC Wood Gundy 5
Chris Saunders (Can) J.V.R. de Betauwers 5
Jean-Francois Gagné (Can) Rack Ultra 5
Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon-Litespeed 5

Women

1. Gina Grain (Can) Colavita 290 pts
2. Merrill Collins (Can) La Bicicletta 290
3. Anne Samplonius (Can) Biovail 260
4. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) D’amos 210
5. Lisa Sweeney (Can) CPT- Colnago 210
6. Marie-Pier Bédard (Can) Espoirs Laval 190
7. Emily Roy (Can) Indépendant 170
8. Laura Yoisten (Can) Victory Brewing 170
9. Suzie Bélanger (Can) Cascades 120
10. Jennifer Stephenson (Can) Biovail 80
11. Veronique Labonté (Can) Cascades 75
12. Annie Gervais (Can) Martin Swiss 60
13. Julie Marceau (Can) Marinoni 60
14. Joelle Numainville (Can) Biovail 50
15. Leah Wilson (Can) Cascades 40
16. Katy St-Laurent (Can) Sleeman Clear Energie 20
17. Jeneviève Gauthier (Can) Le Yeti 10
Marie-Michele Richard (Can) Cascades 5
Jessica Burns (Can) Cascades 5
Vanessa Goodbehere (Can) Cascades 5