HOULE SECOND OVERALL IN FINAL TOUR DE BEAUCE STANDINGS
(St-Georges, QC – June 19, 2016) Team Canada’s Hugo Houle did everything possible to win the Tour de Beauce on Sunday in the final stage, but in the end could not erase the 16 second deficit he had to American road champion Greg Daniel. Houle had his third podium appearance of the race, finishing second to Daniel in the final stage, and taking second in the overall standings.
The fifth and final stage sends the riders on 12 laps of a 10.2 kilometre circuit that is dominated by a two kilometre climb. Riders get little recovery time, since the rest of the circuit twists and turns through residential streets. More than once, a race leader has lost the jersey after his team could not respond to the constant attacks put forth by rival contenders.
A break of five went clear on the second lap, driven by Canadian pro Rob Britton (Rally Cycling). Also in the break were Joshua Berry (Jelly Belly), Ryan Anderson (Team Canada), Alexis Cartier (Garneau Quebecor) and Matteo Dal-Cin (Silber). A few laps later, Thomas Vaubourzeix (Lupus) and Jordan Cheyne (Jelly Belly) bridged across, while Berry was dropped.
The break grew to over two minutes, making Britton the virtual race leader, but Axeon began to chase in earnest, and the gap shrank until with just under three laps to go the leaders were caught.
Houle attacked every time up the climb, but Daniel could not be shaken. After Houle’s attack the final time up the climb only 12 riders were left. Out of the final corner with 500 metres to go, Houle made the first move, but Daniel was on his wheel, and came by to take the win in the last 50 metres.
For Houle, it was a case of being outgunned by a stronger team. “Greg Daniel had a really strong team and was really strong himself. I was just not able to get him off my wheel; I tried pretty hard, but there was nothing I could do. On the last lap I tried from the bottom of the climb, but he just stayed on my wheel. I tried everything I could, but at the top of the hill it was over, so I decided to go for the stage win. I brought back Morton and Perry with 500 metres and then I had to go, but Greg was on my wheel and he passed me at the end.”
“I think I finished stronger then I started, so that’s a good sign for Nationals. I don’t think I could have raced Tour de Beauce better then I did this year, with the team we had, which wasn’t as strong as Axeon. I did my best and came second … so I will have to come back again!”
In addition to Houle, there were three more Canadians in the top-10 of the final classification, with Britton seventh, Alex Cataford (Silber) ninth and David Drouin (Team Canada) tenth. Drouin, appearing in his first Tour de Beauce, finished third in the Under-23 category.
RESULTS – STAGE 5
- DANIEL, Gregory (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) 3:06:56
- HOULE, Hugo (CANADA)
- MILAN JIMENZ, Diego (INTEJA-MMR DOMINICAN CYCLING TEAM)
- CARPENTER, Robin (HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTWEAR)
- PERRY, Benjamin (SILBER PRO CYCLING) ST
- SQUIRE, Robert (HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTWEAR) ST
- MORTON, Lachlan (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) ST
- MORTON, Angus (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) +00:03
- TUREK, Daniel (CYCLING ACADEMY TEAM) +00:03
- HORNER, Christopher (LUPUS RACING TEAM) +00:03
YELLOW JERSEY DESJARDINS
- DANIEL, Gregory (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) +15:37:34
- HOULE, Hugo (CANADA) +00:22
- CARPENTER, Robin (HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTWEAR) +01:07
- MORTON, Lachlan (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) +01:32
- TUREK, Daniel (CYCLING ACADEMY TEAM) +01:53
- KUSS, Sepp (RALLY CYCLING) +02:03
- BRITTON, Robert (RALLY CYCLING) +02:09
- MORTON, Angus (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) +02:16
- CATAFORD, Alex (SILBER PRO CYCLING) +04:23
- DROUIN, David (CANADA) +05:11
POLKA DOT JERSEY PRO CYCLE
- SQUIRE, Robert (HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTWEAR) 61 pts
- LEMUS, Luis (CYCLING ACADEMY TEAM) 48 pts
- BRITTON, Robert (RALLY CYCLING) 34pts
RED JERSEY LE GEORGESVILLE
- DANIEL, Gregory (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) 9:09:59
- KUSS, Sepp (RALLY CYCLING) +02:03
- DROUIN, David (CANADA) +05:11
WHITE JERSEY HYDRO QUEBEC
- DANIEL, Gregory (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN) 72pts
- HOULE, Hugo (CANADA) 59pts
- CARPENTER, Robin (HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTWEAR) 49pts
