BOIVIN SECOND IN OPENING STAGE OF GP SAGUENAY

SAGUENAY, June 9, 2017 – Team Canada had a strong start to the internationally sanctioned stage race Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay on Thursday, with team leader Guillaume Boivin of Montreal placing second on the 166 kilometre opening stage that began and finished in the town of La Baie, on the Saguenay River.

Boivin was a member of a ten rider breakaway group that also included Canadian riders Travis Samuel (H&R Block) and Jack Burke (Aevolo).  The break did not get away from the main peloton until 80 kilometres into the stage, with constant attacking and the high temperatures (32 Celcius) whittling down the field.  Boivin bridged across to the initial break, which then rode away from the rest of the peloton.  In the final sprint, American Steve Fisher (Canyon Bicycles) outkicked Boivin for the win and the leader’s jersey.  Fisher leads Boivin by seven seconds after time bonuses are factored in.  Team Canada is second in the team standings, behind Canyon Bicycles.

“I haven’t raced since the Tour of Azerbaijan,” explained Boivin, “so I wasn’t sure how I’d go, but I knew I was strong from recent training. I really surprised myself during the bridge. I just did a supertuck on the descent and got away from the group and decided I might as well go!”

The speed and temperature saw 23 riders abandon or finish outside the time limit, and the list of potential overall winners has shrunk, with only 12 riders within a minute of the lead.  Defending champion Ryan Roth (Silber Pro Cycling) is over three minutes back.

Team Canada manager Kevin Field commented, “This is actually a perfect situation for us. We said in our [team] meeting it would be better for us not to win today, but keep the game close. We lost Raph [Auclair] today as well, so defending with just three guys would have been hard. Now Canyon has the responsibility, which is good for us.”