Nordhaug, not a typical fantasy league selection, was not expected to win as he was supporting his teammate and compatriot Edvald Boasson Hagen, and pushing watts to the limit for the lead out. But when he got the green light from BH in his earplug – GO – he made no mistake taking advantage of Kolobnev, who started his sprint a bit too early, as the Norwegian passed him for the victory of the 205.7km race in 5 hours 28 minutes and 29 seconds.
“I felt so strong in the last kilometre. It’s an unbelievable experience. I had victories already, but not in a race like this,” said an elated Nordhaug post-race.
In fact, the final outcome was up for grabs until the end, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the most intense moments happened on the mountain during the last two laps. While everyone was trying to stay alive until the finish, Canada’s David Veilleux (Europcar) started to push hard on the pedals, right in the middle of the Camilien Houde (mayor of Montreal in the 1920’s) climb.The press room, the people in the streets, and the sound of trumpets outside got louder – and even louder when around five seconds later, the historic Canadian winner of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), decided to answer Veilleux’s call. For a minute, everyone was hoping to see these two racers together until the end of this race… for yet another amazing Canadian cycling story.
But on this day, the old Camilien Houde climb forced Hesjedal and Veilleux to slow down and stop digging deep…and the group behind was still very strong as they were caught. Soon after the attacks began again setting up the final push and Nordhaug’s surprise final assault. Here is what Hesjedal had to say after his race:“I was on the podium here in 2010 and it would have been nice to do better than third, but I have to be realistic,” said Hesjedal. “I’ve had a good season, winning the Giro and riding well in the Tour de France until my crash. I went for it today and I was happy to be in the top group.”
With 49 riders who DNF’d, the Montreal course showed no mercy. Riders like Matthew Goss (Aus) Orica-Green Edge, Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Sky Procycling, Christian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin-Sharp, José Ivan Gutierrez (Esp) Movistar Team and Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica-GreenEdge were the stars who decided to head back to the Delta Hotel.
The GPC Quebec City course also had is fair share of DNF’s with 62 riders. But here is what Alex Dowsett (Gbr) Sky Procycling said via Twitter after his race: ”Montreal was harder, that and my legs were refusing to do circles today, cracking ride by Lars though, gutsy gutsy victory ”
Legendary Canadian rider, Michael Barry (Sky Procycling), who was racing for the last time in Canada as he recently announced his retirement, was happy with the outcome. “To see one of my teammates win here was good way to cap it off,” commented Barry.
Many attacks occurred during the last two laps. At some point we saw Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar and Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep talking to each other. It could have been the good moment for a French escape but Voeckler decided to go it alone leaving Chavanel in the group. Chavanel hadn’t received his confirmation for the 2012 UCI Road World Championship, and he was clearly trying to prove that he was ready. (note: both Chavanel and Voeckler received their ticket to UCI Road Worlds this morning!).
For some reason, riders are still trying to understand what it takes to win in Montreal. This is a young race proving that there are still many ways to win. If classic specialists are more inclined to win in Montreal, we could see medium mountain climbers on the podium in the coming years.The complexity of Montreal’s race will bring new faces to the 2013 edition… perhaps Monsieur Tom Boonen or Fabian Cancellara. For now it’s one Norwegian who captured the glory and our imagination. Yet still we dream – it’s what cycling is all about.
Full results HERE.
- Mid race pee break © Pasquale Stalteri
- Gautier took the meilleur grimpeur award © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- The Montreal podium, with dignitaries © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Nordhaug was thrilled with one of his biggest career victories © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky) went hard in the final km to take the win © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Francois Parisien is lead by SpiderTech teammate Guillaume Boivin © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Canadian Olympian Curt Harnett is part of the SpiderTech team © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Francis de Greef (Lotto Belisol) and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Katusha's Maxime Vantomme leads the chasing peloton © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Feed zone © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- The peloton on Mont Royal © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- MC Randy Ferguson with Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Michael Barry (Sky) signing autographs © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- More Cowbell, at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Main breakaway © Pasquale Stalteri
- Koren enjoys a Coke while chasing breakaway © Pasquale Stalteri
- Main breakaway © Pasquale Stalteri
- Houle handing out Spidertech caps © Pasquale Stalteri
- Houle handing out SpiderTech caps © Pasquale Stalteri
- Johnny Hoogerland © Pasquale Stalteri
- Hesjedal pre race © Pasquale Stalteri
- Final sprint © Pasquale Stalteri
- Early race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- Early race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- Christian Meier © Pasquale Stalteri
- Michael Barry © Pasquale Stalteri
- William Boivin © Pasquale Stalteri
- Michael Barry © Pasquale Stalteri
- Thomas Voeckler © Pasquale Stalteri
- © Pasquale Stalteri
- © Pasquale Stalteri
- Hugo Houle © Pasquale Stalteri
- Thomas Voeckler © Pasquale Stalteri
- Veilleux signing autographs © Pasquale Stalteri
- Veilleux media scrum © Pasquale Stalteri
- SpiderTech © Pasquale Stalteri
- Veilleux pre race © Pasquale Stalteri
- SpiderTech © Pasquale Stalteri
- Race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- SpiderTech © Pasquale Stalteri
- Ryan Roth © Pasquale Stalteri
- Rui de Costa and Martin Kohler © Pasquale Stalteri
- Roth © Pasquale Stalteri
- Ryan Roth © Pasquale Stalteri
- © Pasquale Stalteri
- Ryan Roth © Pasquale Stalteri
- © Pasquale Stalteri
- Race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- More race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- Ryder Hesjedal © Pasquale Stalteri
- Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) © Pasquale Stalteri
- GP Montreal 2012 final podium © Cor Vos
- Hesjedal was the top Canadian in Montreal © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Pedal on scene © Pasquale Stalteri
- Francois Parisien © Pasquale Stalteri
- Race action © Pasquale Stalteri
- Barry (l) and Hesjedal post race © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- Hesjedal post race © Pasquale Stalteri
- The day's break consisted of Egoi Martinez (Euskatel), Cyril Gautier (Europcar) and Manuele Boaro (Saxo-Tinkoff) © Peter Kraiker/kraikerphoto.com
- David Veilleux © Pasquale Stalteri
- Lars Petter Nordhaug at the finish line © Pasquale Stalteri