(Québec) For three minutes, Benoît Cosnefroy thought he had won the Amstel Gold Race last spring. After reviewing the photo finish, the stewards instead awarded the victory to Michał Kwiatkowski, by a length of gut.
Posted yesterday at 9:54 p.m.
Five months later, this painful memory no longer had any hold on the French cyclist. Author of an attack just over two kilometers from the line, he resisted the return of the main tenors to win the Grand Prix de Québec on Friday afternoon.
” She’s the prettiest ! “, Said the representative of AG2R-Citroën, crowned at the classic of Plouay, last year, and at the U23 World Championships, in 2017.
“I’m happy not to have won at the start of the season to wait for this first win here,” added Cosnefroy at a press conference. Even if the Amstel Gold Race, I would have liked to win it. But now, it is with great happiness that I have my first win of the season here, in the World Tour, and on one of the most beautiful classics of the year. »
As in Montreal in 2019, where an attack at the end of the race almost led him to a final sprint with Julian Alaphilippe, Cosnefroy was not intimidated by the main favorites such as Wout van Aert and Michael Matthews.
Like Philippe Gilbert in 2011, the 26-year-old Norman started by turning on the Côte des Glacis, the last climb before the interminable final approach on Chemin Saint-Louis and Grande Allée.
Taking advantage of the disorganization behind, Cosnefroy managed to keep his cushion for a few seconds until the end, turning around several times to measure the gap with his pursuers.
After crossing the line with his arms outstretched and his gaze skyward, he let himself fall to the ground, euphoric. The first man to fall into his arms is his Belgian teammate Greg Van Avermaet (13e), six times on the podium in Quebec, who kept watch in case of a return of the hunting group.
I didn’t think I would go alone, but when I isolated myself, I thought it was probably better not to count my efforts and try to resist until the finish line. At the kilometer, I saw that I was quite ahead of the peloton. I stayed focused in my effort and I was in very, very pain. But now, I was able to savor the last 50 meters and have a little good time and fun before crossing the line.
Benoit Cosnefroy
With a cushion of four seconds, Cosnefroy is the first champion to win solo in Quebec since his compatriot Thomas Voeckler in the inaugural edition in 2010. Rigoberto Urán also took off alone in 2015, but he ended up in the same time as the second, Michael Matthews.
“We earn so little in cycling, recalled Cosnefroy. Well, there are people who win 10 races a year, but that’s not my case. It is a sensation that is truly extraordinary. I just wanted to thank everyone by raising my arms: the organizers, the public and my team. This moment, I want to share it with everyone. »
A second place for Matthews
PHOTO THIBAULT CAMUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Matthews during the Tour de France 2022
Double title holder, Michael Matthews settled the sprint in a small committee, signing his fifth podium in six starts in the national capital.
“Benoît’s gap was just too big for us to catch up with at the end,” said the Australian from BikeExchange. But personally, I’m very happy with my race and my sprint. Unfortunately, it was for second place, but I did my best. These are good signals in view of Sunday [à Montréal] and obviously in two weeks at the World Championships [en Australie]. »
Biniam Girmay completed the podium, concretizing a fine demonstration by his Intermarché teammates, who largely contributed to making this GP of Quebec one of the two fastest in history (42.2 km/h on average) .
It’s a first time in Quebec for my team and me. We achieved our goal by getting on the podium. I’m very happy and it’s something very special for me.
Biniam Girmay
Designated favorite by almost everyone, van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) settled for fourth place. In the final, his French teammate Christophe Laporte tried to spot him to help him, but the Belgian had to plug a hole himself 400m from the line.
Spaniard Iván García Cortina finished fifth, providing 225 precious points for his Movistar team, which holds the 18e position in the World Tour ranking, the last guaranteeing maintenance in the first division from 2023 to 2025 on the basis of sporting criteria.
The Israel-Premier Tech of Hugo Houle (retirement) had a disastrous day after getting involved in the battle in the last three laps, in particular with a breakaway from Simon Clarke. Giacomo Nizzolo (25)e) and Sep Vanmarcke (30e) concluded at the back of the reduced pack, grabbing a measly 15 points.
Nothing encouraging on this day when the International Cycling Union reiterated its intention to grant only 18 licenses next year, thus denying information from the specialized site cyclingnews.com suggesting that their number could reach 20.
Rather discreet during the 201.6 km event, Tadej Pogačar (UAE), double winner of the Tour de France, ranked 24efinishing in the first group with teammate Diego Ulissi (9e), crowned in Montreal in 2017. It promises Sunday on Mount Royal.