Race Report: The twelfth version of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec was gained by Arnaud De Lie. The Belgian appeared to be in a hopeless place to start out the ultimate dash, however managed to go Corbin Sturdy and Michael Matthews with a powerful dash. It’s a particular victory for the nonetheless solely 21 year-old De Lie as it’s his first triumph at WorldTour stage.
Québec’23:
The WorldTour peloton traveled to Canada for the GP de Québec and the GP de Montréal. The Québec race was held on Friday. The route was similar to final yr and 2019. Sixteen laps of 12.6 kilometres, for a complete distance of 201.6 kilometres with virtually 3,000 metres of climbing. It might be a battle between the puncheurs and the robust sprinters. Earlier than the beginning, Mattias Skjelmose, Valentin Madouas, Christophe Laporte, Arnaud De Lie and Matej Mohorič have been the begins of the day. After some preliminary fruitless assault makes an attempt, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Fast-Step), Gianmarco Garofoli (Astana Qazaqstan) and David Lozano (Workforce Novo Nordisk) escaped the peloton. Jonas Iversby Hvideberg tried to affix them, however failed.
The lead of Vansevenant, Vacek, Lozano and Garofoli was at 4 minutes. Within the peloton, the chase was led by the boys of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty for Biniam Girmay and Tudor for the Dane Alexander Kamp. These groups caught the escapees 40 kilometres from the end. The race was about to blow up, however Ilan Van Wilder of Soudal Fast-Step crashed with a number of different riders within the feed zone. Van Wilder was quickly again on his bike and was in a position to rejoin after a chase, however the peloton was now at prime pace. There was a brand new choice as Fausto Masnada attacked on the entrance and the retiring Daryl Impey was in bother on the again. The Italian of Soudal Fast-Step was pulled again, however his assault was a catalyst for a brand new acceleration from the peloton, however once more these makes an attempt have been shortly nipped within the bud. When coming into the final 30 kilometres, Lidl-Trek put the stress on. This resulted in a brand new choice, however there was no cut up. We began the final two laps of the GP de Québec with a peloton of 80 riders. An assault got here 16 kilometres from the end and it was Ben Healy who tore the race aside. This didn’t final lengthy, as a result of Pavel Sivakov made his transfer, however the French-Russian climber additionally did not get away. Nicola Conci was the subsequent to strive, however once more it got here to nothing.
No break succeeded
On the bell for the ultimate lap, the entrance group consisted of about 70 riders. A bunch dash appeared to be a really lifelike state of affairs, though there have been a couple of quick climbs earlier than the end. On the Côte de la Montagne there was an assault by Benoît Cosnefroy. The Frenchman gained in Québec final yr after a late escape and wished to repeat that win. The Frenchman opened a promising hole, however turned out to not be robust sufficient to proceed his effort. Cosnefroy was caught once more with simply over 2 kilometres to go and the bunch may put together for the dash. Jumbo-Visma opened the lead-out for Laporte, however the Frenchman wasn’t positioned nicely. Corbin Sturdy was in the appropriate place and gave the impression to be on his option to a stunning victory, however Arnaud De Lie got here very quick from behind and sprinted handed everybody on his option to his first WorldTour victory.
A late dash from Arnaud De Lie
Race winner, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny): “As a bit boy, I watched the race on tv and to win right here on my debut and already including this victory to my palmarès is improbable. I attempted to avoid wasting as a lot power till the ultimate dash, that was essential in the present day. As that is solely my first time racing GP Québec, I’ve watched the previous editions many occasions and it discovered me lots. We rode the proper race with the workforce, however I used to be a bit far in the direction of the ultimate dash. Fortunately I nonetheless had two teammates left who introduced me up. I needed to launch early and had some work to do however I may take a great pace and held it to the road. To beat riders equivalent to Corbin Sturdy and Michael Matthews on finishes like these shouldn’t be straightforward. So I’m over the moon with this primary victory on WorldTour stage. The GP Montréal continues to be a bit tougher and Maxim Van Gils ought to be our major man for the race. However with the form I’m in, one thing may be attainable, who is aware of.”
Massive win for De Lie
fifth, Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Victorious): “At this time, the aim was to attend for the ultimate dash as a result of we thought it will be the very best probability to get a end result right here. I’ve been feeling good recently, and we hoped I may take it right here to the races in Canada. The blokes did a great job taking care of me, and ultimately, Pello delivered me completely in third place within the essential nook on the backside of the final steep climb with 4km to go, leaving it as much as me to complete it off. I performed it a bit bit secure, waited for the ultimate dash, and didn’t fairly have the legs to get on the rostrum, however fifth continues to be an amazing end result, and I’m pleased with it. I’m feeling a bit fatigued after a protracted, profitable season and the half after the Tour, so I’m beginning to really feel it, however in the present day was a great end result, and we hope for one more good run on Sunday.”
A really completely satisfied younger De Lie
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec Consequence:
1. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny in 4:47:36
2. Corbin Sturdy (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla
4. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar
5. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious
6. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma
7. Alexander Kamp (Den) Tudor
8. Marc Hirschi (Sui) UAE Workforce Emirates
9. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Fast-Step
10. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek.
The 2023 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec podium: Corbin Sturdy (Israel-Premier Tech), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) and Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla)
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