Nordhaug guts out a victory in Montréal

Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky) held off a chasing bunch to take the biggest victory of his career at the GP Cyclist Montréal.

Nordhaug went with 4.5km to go, but it looked like he’d gone too early when he was passed by Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha) and Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale). Kolobnev surprised the bunch under the flamme rouge, with Moser moving out to take him with 100 metres to go. Nordhaug found another kick in his legs to overhaul the pair to win by two seconds.

The Norwegian is riding in his last season for Sky, he will be moving to Rabobank in the coming season. “I am leaving, but I’m happy I could get my chances to win,” Nordhaug said after the race. “I tried to cover the moves, but with 3km to go I felt good and Edvald [Boasson Hagen] was screaming on the radio ‘go’. I thought I would get beaten in the sprint but I wasn’t.”

Moser’s teammate Sagan was one of the pre-race favourites, but the Slovakian missed the split in the lead group. “I would like to have helped Peter so I went to the front of the group. I was on my own there so I followed Lars. I’m happy about this result; I didn’t feel good to start but towards the end, I started to feel better so I’m happy with this result.”

Friday’s winner Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) just missed the podium in fourth, with Nordhaug’s teammate and compatriot, Edvald Boasson Hagen, finishing in fifth.

A number of attacks went off the front in the opening laps, but it was Eduardo Vorganov (Katusha) who launched the first serious looking attack. The Russian was forced to make the gap on his own until he was joined by Manuele Baoro (Saxo Bank - Tinkoff) and Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas-Cannondale). Canadian national champion Ryan Roth (Spidertech) bridged the gap to the three leaders also.

The quartet was brought back, but Baoro made another effort after 31km. Cyril Gautier (Europcar) and Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) hunted down the Italian and made contact soon after starting the fourth lap. Behind them Garmin-Sharp put in a big effort to bring the peloton, which was still in two, back together. Once the lead had reached 30 seconds the peloton looked happy to let the three go and their advantage quickly increased.

Tired of waiting, Simone Ponzi (Astana) and Kristijan Koren (Liquigas-Cannondale) made a move. With five minutes to the escapees it was always going to be a tough challenge to bridge the gap. The injection of pace caught a few riders out, including Heinrich Haussler, who went right off the back of the peloton.

On the 11th tour Ponzi and Koren’s attack was finally brought to the end. The catch signalled several jumps out of the front of the group, but it took a couple of attempts for something to stick. Selvaggi, who was in one of the early escapes, put his cards on the table and went for a lone bid. The Italian didn’t get too far and was left dangling off the front of the bunch for a lap. Baoro was the first of the three leaders to snap on the 14 ascent of the Côte Camillien-Houde.

With three laps remaining the peloton finally caught sight of the two remaining escapees as the doubled back on the Avenue de Parc. Katusha was driving the peloton now with Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) for assistance. Content that they would catch the leading pair before the end the peloton were happy to let them stay out front until the penultimate lap, allowing Gautier to take enough point to secure the king of the mountains competition. It was all together, but strung-out, as the riders neared the final lap with a number of riders trying to get away.

In the midst of the action the day was ended for Janez Brajkovic and Gerald Ciolek as the pair crashed in the peloton. Team Sky took to the front at the top of the climb to reduce the main bunch to some 20 riders, including Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Québec winner Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) plus a number of other pre-race favourites.

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) decided to go earlier than in Québec, attacking at the 7km to go mark. The move didn’t work and the Belgian was swallowed by the strong group. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky) positioned himself a few metres in front of the group, forcing the other teams to respond.

The response came from Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil). While they were all watching Nordhaug, Alexander Kolobnev jumped the group under the flamme rouge. It looked like he might just make it but Nordhaug found the strength to overhaul the Russian with Moser in second and Kolobnev slumping to third.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky Procycling5:28:29
2Moreno Moser (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:02
3Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge0:00:04
5Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 4 - Cell 2
6Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Rui Costa (Por) Movistar TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Tony Gallopin (Fra) Radioshack-NissanRow 9 - Cell 2
11Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-SharpRow 10 - Cell 2
12Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 11 - Cell 2
13Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 12 - Cell 2
14Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Oliver Zaug (Swi) Radioshack-NissanRow 14 - Cell 2
16Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 16 - Cell 2
18Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Pro Team AstanaRow 18 - Cell 2
20Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 20 - Cell 2
22Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp0:00:11
24David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar0:00:22
25Francois Parisien (Can) Spidertech powered by C10Row 24 - Cell 2
26Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin-Sharp0:00:24
27Ben Hermans (Bel) Radioshack-NissanRow 26 - Cell 2
28Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 27 - Cell 2
29Borut Bozic (Slo) Pro Team AstanaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:00:28
36Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 35 - Cell 2
37Benjamin King (USA) Radioshack-NissanRow 36 - Cell 2
38Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 37 - Cell 2
39Peio Bilbao (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 38 - Cell 2
40Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 39 - Cell 2
41Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Ruben Plaza (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 43 - Cell 2
45David Tanner (Aus) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 44 - Cell 2
46Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin-SharpRow 45 - Cell 2
47Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Radioshack-NissanRow 47 - Cell 2
49Aleb Fairly (USA) Spidertech powered by C10Row 48 - Cell 2
50Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 49 - Cell 2
51Matthew Busche (USA) Radioshack-NissanRow 50 - Cell 2
52Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISDRow 51 - Cell 2
53Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 52 - Cell 2
54Tanel Kangert (Est) Pro Team AstanaRow 53 - Cell 2
55Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 54 - Cell 2
56Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 55 - Cell 2
57Michael Barry (Can) Sky ProcyclingRow 56 - Cell 2
58Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Brian Vandborg (Den) Spidertech powered by C10Row 59 - Cell 2
61Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:00:37
62Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-SharpRow 61 - Cell 2
63Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:00:42
64Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne0:00:45
65Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 64 - Cell 2
66Lucas Euser (USA) Spidertech powered by C100:01:02
67Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:01:09
68Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne0:01:43
69Sylvain Georges (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:10
70Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana0:02:29
71Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team0:03:12
72Jon Izagirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi0:03:22
73Christian Meier (Can) Orica - GreenEdge0:03:45
74Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 74 - Cell 2
76Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 75 - Cell 2
77Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Radioshack-NissanRow 76 - Cell 2
78Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
80Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Ryan Roth (Can) Spidertech powered by C10Row 80 - Cell 2
82Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 81 - Cell 2
83Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica - GreenEdgeRow 83 - Cell 2
85Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 85 - Cell 2
87Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ-Big MatRow 87 - Cell 2
89Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 88 - Cell 2
90Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-SharpRow 90 - Cell 2
92Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Timothy Duggan (USA) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 92 - Cell 2
94Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:04:57
95Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Hugo Houle (Can) Spidertech powered by C10Row 96 - Cell 2
98Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:07:08
99Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:07:15
100Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:07:20
101Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica - GreenEdgeRow 100 - Cell 2
102Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 102 - Cell 2
104Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Pro Team AstanaRow 105 - Cell 2
107Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 108 - Cell 2
110Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 109 - Cell 2
111George Bennett (NZl) Radioshack-NissanRow 110 - Cell 2
112Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 111 - Cell 2
113Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 112 - Cell 2
114Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 113 - Cell 2
115Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 114 - Cell 2
116Guillaume Boivin (Can) Spidertech powered by C100:12:23
DNFJosé Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJésus Herrada (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJosé Ventoso (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin-SharpRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFAndreas Klier (Ger) Garmin-SharpRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFManuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Kern (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFPerrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Dowsett (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Lovkvist (Swe) Sky ProcyclingRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFGeraint Thomas (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFValerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFEdward King (USA) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFKristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFDominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFJuraj Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFGerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma - QuickstepRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFGiampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFYury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica - GreenEdgeRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Goss (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFValentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Ponzi (Ita) Pro Team AstanaRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Neyens (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFDennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFMikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFJorge Azanza (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFEgoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Perez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Lloyd (Aus) Lampre - ISDRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFDaniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Mortensen (Den) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Lemarchand (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFMads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFTroels Vinther (Den) Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFRein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFTristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Anderson (Can) Spidertech powered by C10Row 164 - Cell 2

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Born in Ireland to a cycling family and later moved to the Isle of Man, so there was no surprise when I got into the sport. Studied sports journalism at university before going on to do a Masters in sports broadcast. After university I spent three months interning at Eurosport, where I covered the Tour de France. In 2012 I started at Procycling Magazine, before becoming the deputy editor of Procycling Week. I then joined Cyclingnews, in December 2013.

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