July 20, 2018 (Val-d’Or, Que.) – Team Canada’s Riley Pickrell earned his second victory at the Tour de l’Abitibi on Friday in the fifth stage, a 99.8 kilometre road race between Amos and Val-d’Or, that took place under a hot sun. Pickrell extended his lead in the Points competition with his win. Riley Sheehan (Team USA) solidified his hold on the Brown Jersey of race leader by finishing third behind Taisei Hino (Team Japan).

“Once we were in the circuit, I knew it would be hard to move up, and if you’re 20 wheels back, you’re very unlikely to win the race,” explained Pickrell. “My teammates worked really hard for me to navigate the two roundabouts coming in to the circuit, keeping me in good position.”

The race was marked by a fall involving about fifteen participants about one third of the way through the stage. Five cyclists were later forced to retire.

Sheehan has managed to raise his lead from 11 to 15 seconds over Team USA team mates Kendrick Boots and Michael Garrison in the GC competition, with Canadian road champion Ben Katerberg (TaG Cycling) remaining in fourth, at 19 seconds. Pickrell now leads the points standings with 102 point, 14 more than Hino.

For the sixth and penultimate stage of the Tour on Saturday, cyclists will stay in Val-d’Or for a 104 kilometre urban circuit.

Results (brief)

1. Riley Pickrell (Can) Team Canada 2:14:20
2. Taisei Hino (Jpn) Team Japan
3. Riley Sheehan (USA) Team USA
4. Eduardo Cruz De La Mora (USA) Alterra Home Loans Cycling Team
5. Lucas Boniface (Fra) Team France
6. Ryan Jastrab (USA) Alterra Home Loans Cycling Team
7. Théo Marichy (Fra) Espoirs Elite – Primeau Velo
8. Robin Plamondon (Can) Team Canada
9. Phunsiri Sirimongkhon (Tha) Team Thailand
10. Callum Walsh (Nzl) Team California

GC after Stage 5
1. Riley Sheehan (USA) Team USA 9:05:18
2. Kendrick Boots (USA) Team USA 0:15
3. Michael Garrison (USA) Team USA
4. Ben Katerberg (Can) TaG Cycling Race Team 0:19
5. Sam Cook (Nzl) Desjardins Ford p/b Cromwell 0:28
6. Sean Quinn (USA) Team USA 0:34
7. Taisei Hino (Jpn) Team Japan 0:38
8. Tom Mainguenaud (Fra) Team France 0:44
9. Burnie Mcgrath (Nzl) Team New Zealand 0:49
10. Antonin Corvaisier (Fra) Team France 0:55