(Quebec) We were expecting Tadej Pogačar. It was instead the Australian Michael Matthews who signed a record third victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.
The Jayco AlUla rider won the fastest edition of the UCI World Tour classic. His average of 42.353 km/h was faster than the previous record of 42.226 km/h, set in 2014.
His third victory also makes him the most successful cyclist in Quebec. He shared the mark until then with Peter Sagan.
Matthews, also crowned in 2018 and 2019, beat Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) in a furious sprint after 4 hours 45:36 of effort to cover the 201.6 km. The first 35 riders finished in the same time.
Pogačar, the big favourite who was aiming for victories in Quebec and Montreal on Sunday, was unable to continue his attack with just over 2 km to go until the finish line. He finished in seventh place.
PHOTO ERIC LALMAND, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Tadej Pogacar
Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech) was the best Canadian, finishing the event in the leading pack in 31e place. His teammate Hugo Houle finished in 67e place, 49 seconds behind the winner.
Their leader Corbin Strong, who had been bothered for a few days by stomach discomfort, was unable to complete the event. Derek Gee, who wanted to be the team’s “plan B” for this race, did not have the legs to follow the best. He was the 110the to cross the line, almost five minutes after Matthews.
Morgensen tries his luck
It was American Matteo Morgensen (Visma) who first launched a serious attack at the end of the race, with around 10km to go. He managed to build up a lead of almost 20 seconds on the peloton, with Pogačar and Julien Alaphilippe in particular in pursuit, but it didn’t hold.
With 3.4 km to go, Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep) and two teammates joined him. The three Soudals were joined by Arnaud De Lie, winner in 2023, and his Lotto-Dstny teammate Maxim Van Gils, and Pogačar then set off in front.
PHOTO DAVID PINTENS, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Arnaud De Lie
Alaphilippe was dropped with 2.1km to go – he would eventually finish 81ste – and the leaders were caught with 1km to go. Pogačar then found himself stuck behind, unable to catch up with Matthews, who had slipped through the crowd.
The field of these Quebec and Montreal Cycling Grand Prix will now move to the metropolis for Sunday’s race.
The ranking of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
- 1. Michael Matthews (AUS/JAY) the 201.6 km in 4:45:36 (average: 42.4 km/h)
- 2. Biniam Girmay (ERI/IWA) at 0.
- 3. Rudy Molard (FRA/GFC) 0.
- 4. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/TVL) 0.
- 5. Per Strand Hagenes (NOR/TVL) 0.
- 6. Bauke Mollema (NED/LTK) 0.
- 7. Tadej Pogačar (SLO/UAD) 0.
- 8. Neilson Powless (US/EFE) 0.
- 9. Pello Bilbao (ESP/TBV) 0.
- 10. Edoardo Zambanini (ITA/TBV) 0.
- 11. Luke Lamperti (USA/SOQ) 0.
- 12. Gianni Vermeersch (BEL/ADC) 0.
- 13. Arnaud De Lie (BEL/LTD) 0.
- 14. Alex Baudin (FRA/DAT) 0.
- 15. Ruben Guerreiro (POR/MOV) 0.
- 16. Frederik Wandahl (DEN/RBH) 0.
- 17. Lorenzo Rota (ITA/IWA) 0.
- 18. Matis Louvel (FRA/ARK) 0.
- 19. Romain Gregoire (FRA/GFC) 0.
- 20. Alberto Bettiol (ITA/AST) 0.