Gilbert triumphs in GP Quebec City

Belgian National Champion Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) took a nail-biting victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec City. He entered the race as the favourite to win and did not disappoint, nabbing the victory by a hair ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Rigoberto Uran (Sky Pro Cycling).

"It was a very difficult race today," Gilbert said. "Sky imposed a very strong tempo from the start and there were stages when we were going 60kph and everyone was tired. Six laps from the finish, Rabobank took over and everyone was tired. There were 10 riders together at the end and I was the strongest man.

"I tried to go on my own but I couldn't," he said. "I waited for the attack on the last climb and it was not easy because Gesink was behind me doing well. When a rider is chasing you on a climb at the finish he sees you like a target, so it is easier for a guy like that. After 700 metres I went, relaxed a little bit, and made another go, where I could relax with and enjoy my victory."

Gilbert made his initial move on the penultimate climb up the Cote de la Montagne. He was followed by rival Gesink along with Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack), Rigoberto Uran (Sky Pro Cycling), Fabian Wegmann (Leopard Trek), Simone Ponzi (Liquigas-Cannondale), Simon Clarke (Astana), Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step) and Bjorn Leukemnas and Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM).

Gilbert continued to force his own pace and ended up riding solo through the start-finish line with one lap to go and down the descent through the Parc des Champs-De-Bataille. However, the chase group of strong one-day contenders brought him back along the Boulevard Champlain before the finale climb.

"I decided to go because I wanted to make the race tougher," Gilbert said. "I believed a few riders would follow but I found myself alone. I think it was necessary because in the end we had a strong group and everyone was motivated and it was a good move."

Leipheimer set the pace on the last climb, countered by a strong attack from Gesink. Uran showed his good form when he quickly caught on to Gesink's wheel on the climb, followed by Gilbert. The small lead group reunited at the top of the climb through the technical short circuit with three kilometres to go.

Gilbert forced another strong attack with two kilometres to go. Gesink followed roughly 5 seconds back desperately trying to bring back the Belgian before the finish line. Gesink closed the gap down to roughly a bike length with several metres to the finish line. However, he could not pass Gilbert who won the race and satisfied his season's goals by moving into the lead of the UCI wold ranking, surpassing Tour de France winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).

"I think I was stronger than last year, today," said Gesink who place third at the event in 2010 and won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal. "In the end when I crossed the finish line I wasn't really happy. I was really close. It was a nice race in the beginning, a little too slow if you ask me, with only three breakaway riders. But, we started an early final and the race was on. It was a great final and for the people who saw it on television the finish looked easy, but I can tell you that it was not."

Salerno, Hurel and Herrada breakaway caught in the final third

A top-class peloton that included 18 WorldTour teams and four wild card Professional Continental teams lined up to start the Grande Prix Cycliste de Quebec City. The 201.6km event will begin in the downtown core on Saint-Louis, held on 16 laps of a 12.6km circuit.

The peloton descended through the picturesque Park Des Champs-De-Bataille, raced along the Boulevard Champlain beside the Saint Lawrence River before starting the steep ascent up the Cote de la Montagne. It was a technical circuit through narrow and undulating streets of the old city before returning back onto Saint Louis for a shallow grade uphill to the finish line.

The previous day's sprint winner Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank) and Will Routely (SpiderTech p/b C10) were the first two riders to stretch their legs off of the start line. The pair made their move on the tricky descent through the Parc des Champs-De-Bataille, only a few kilometres into the race.

Alfredo Balloni (Lampre-ISD) was the next rider to make his move along the Boulevard Champlain created a small gap ahead of the peloton on the climb up the Cote de Montagne. Several riders attempted to bridge across resulting in the demise of Balloni's solo breakaway and the peloton reunited before the start of the second lap.

The next blow to the field involved a breakaway with Jesus Herrada (Movistar) and Cristiano Salerno (Liquigas-Cannondale). The pair were quickly joined by Tony Hurel (Europcar) along the Boulevard Champlain on the second lap.

The trio worked together during the following three laps in order to gain a maximum of 4:25 minutes ahead of the peloton. Herrada picked up full points on each KOM ascent on the Cote de la Montagne. Although points were offered on each ascent, they increased as the race progressed, with the bulk of the points awarded during the final three laps. However, Herrada sewed up the KOM competition during the lengthy breakaway.

Sky Pro Cycling, including Canadian Michael Barry, set a strong tempo at the front of the field for its teammates Simon Gerrans and Tour de France stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen, who placed second to Thomas Voeckler last year. Barry earned the event's Best Canadian Rider award after placing 14th on the day.

"We started the race today with three protected riders Rigoberto Uran, Simon Gerrans and Edvald," Barry said. "The course suited all of them, so we started the stage knowing that it would be our responsibility to control the race. We started riding on the front right away, once the gap got up to seven minutes."

Salerno, Hurel and Herrado's efforts came to an end with four laps to go when Sky Pro Cycling successfully reeled them back in, resetting the bike race for the closing kilometres. Garmin-Cervelo moved its riders to the front of the field to take over the pace making for its Canadian talent Ryder Hesjedal.

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervelo) put forth a strong dig following the Cote de la Montagne. He was joined by eight additional riders Lars Nordhaug (Sky Pro Cycling), Tom Stamsnijder (Leopard Trek), Jan Ghyselinck (HTC-Highroad), Phil Deignan (RadioShack), Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Cannondale), Alberto Faria and Luis Pasamontes (Movistar) and Matteo Trentin (Quick Step).

The Cote de la Montagne started to take its toll on the peloton as several riders were spotted swerving back and forth just to get up it. Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was forced to pull off to the side with a leg cramp. Another notable rider who fell off pace in the closing laps was Boasson Hagen.

Trentin made a second move following a strong attach on the decisive climb, joined again by Faria, and the rest were reeled back into the field. Barry did the lion's share of the work to bring back the two breakaway riders for his Sky Pro Cycling teammates.

His fellow countryman Svein Tuft (SpiderTech p/b C10) was the next to make a move on the descent through the Parc des Champs-De-Bataille. He was followed by Trentin, Faria and Javier Iriarte (Movistar), Jason McCartney (RadioShack), Hayden Roulston (HTC-Highroad) and Gorazd Stangelj (Astana) with two laps to go.

"The final was much harder than it was last year," Barry said. "The race was much more selective because Rabobank opened it up with five laps to go and started attacking hard. In the end Rigoberto ended up in a breakaway of 10 riders and behind there were three of us covering attacks to make sure no one else went across, and that was his chance to have a go at the victory. We are happy with third place, the team rode really well and we will try to do the same again on Sunday."

The peloton will reunited on the start line on Sunday at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto5:03:08
2Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling0:00:09
4Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard Trek0:00:14
5Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack0:00:15
6Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:23
7Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 6 - Cell 2
8Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:25
9Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team0:00:30
10Simon Clarke (Aus) Pro Team Astana0:00:47
11Rui Alberto Faria Costa (Por) Movistar Team0:01:17
12Grégory Rast (Swi) Team RadioShack0:01:19
13Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team0:01:21
14Michael Barry (Can) Sky Procycling0:01:23
15Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:26
17Rémi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 16 - Cell 2
18Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJRow 19 - Cell 2
21Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22David Veilleux (Can) Team EuropcarRow 21 - Cell 2
23Anders Lund (Den) Leopard TrekRow 22 - Cell 2
24Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team EuropcarRow 24 - Cell 2
26Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 25 - Cell 2
27Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:01:39
28Rubén Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team0:01:42
29Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ0:01:57
31Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ0:02:10
32Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Procycling0:02:18
33Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank SungardRow 32 - Cell 2
34Michael Mørkøv (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 33 - Cell 2
35Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Philip Deignan (Irl) Team RadioShackRow 35 - Cell 2
37Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 37 - Cell 2
39Svein Tuft (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 38 - Cell 2
40Ryan Roth (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 39 - Cell 2
41Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard TrekRow 40 - Cell 2
42Francesco Reda (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Gustav Larsson (Swe) Saxo Bank Sungard0:02:28
45Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Movistar Team0:03:12
47Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJRow 47 - Cell 2
49Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Pro Team AstanaRow 48 - Cell 2
50Hayden Roulston (NZl) HTC-Highroad0:03:24
51Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ0:04:04
52Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 51 - Cell 2
53David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team0:04:25
54Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:04:37
55Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:04:43
57Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:05:12
58Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team0:05:40
59Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 58 - Cell 2
60Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Sergey Renev (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 60 - Cell 2
62Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 62 - Cell 2
64Edward King (USA) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 63 - Cell 2
65Julien Vermote (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 66 - Cell 2
68Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 67 - Cell 2
69Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJRow 68 - Cell 2
70Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 69 - Cell 2
71Saïd Haddou (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 70 - Cell 2
72Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) HTC-HighroadRow 71 - Cell 2
73Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 72 - Cell 2
74Timothy Duggan (USA) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 73 - Cell 2
75Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:09:28
76Jesús Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team0:12:23
DNFBart De Clercq (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Neyens (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFÓscar Pujol Muñoz (Spa) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFSven Vandousselaere (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Knees (Ger) Sky ProcyclingRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFGrischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFJos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFMichel Kreder (Ned) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Peterson (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Wilson (Aus) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFMikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFMiguel Minguez Ayala (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFIván Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard TrekRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFBrice Feillu (Fra) Leopard TrekRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Mortensen (Den) Leopard TrekRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Leopard TrekRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFJeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFThimothy Roe (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFTejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFCaleb Fairly (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Gretsch (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFGatis Smukulis (Lat) HTC-HighroadRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFDanny Pate (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Pinotti (Ita) HTC-HighroadRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFAlfredo Balloni (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFGrega Bole (Slo) Lampre - ISDRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Loosli (Swi) Lampre - ISDRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Magazzini (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFDaniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFSimon Spilak (Slo) Lampre - ISDRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Saxo Bank SungardRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFJesús Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFAndré Steensen (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFBrian Vandborg (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Team RadioShackRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFBen Hermans (Bel) Team RadioShackRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Hunter (RSA) Team RadioShackRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin King (USA) Team RadioShackRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFJason McCartney (USA) Team RadioShackRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFMauro Finetto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFKristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFCristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFSylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Di Luca (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFSerguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFPetr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFEgor Silin (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFNikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFAllan Davis (Aus) Pro Team AstanaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFMaxim Gourov (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFYevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFJavier Iriarte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFEnrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFAddy Engels (Ned) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFNiki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFBlel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFMirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Rolland (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFTony Hurel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFPerrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFPierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Eudes Demaret (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFTristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFFrancois Parisien (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 167 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Anderson (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 168 - Cell 2
DNFZachary Bell (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 169 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Gilbert (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 170 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 171 - Cell 2
DNFWill Routley (Can) Team Spidertech Powered By C10Row 172 - Cell 2

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Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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