ADAM DE VOS AND RYAN ROTH ANIMATE GRAND PRIX CYCLISTE DE QUÉBEC
Roth takes career first King of the Mountain title
(Quebec, QC – September 11, 2015) The international peloton emerged in Quebec City on Friday for the sixth edition of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, a one-day race part of the UCI WorldTour.
Cyclists faced 16 laps of a 12.6 km circuit, riding in the historical Battlefields Park, then along the St. Lawrence River after the impressive descent of the Côte Gilmour. The last kilometers of the loop featured the magnificent Old Quebec surrounded by its European charm and punchy climbs.
The Canadian National Team was present at the start line with some specific goals in mind, including taking the King of the Mountain title.
Ryan Roth and Adam De Vos animated this sixth edition, taking part in the breakaway of the day formed in the first kilometers of racing.
The two cyclists representing Canada, joined by Cesare Benedetti (BORA-Argon18) Perrig Quemeneur (Team Europcar), Wouter Wippert and Darren Lapthorne (Drapac Pro Cycling), were able to create a gap of more than ten minutes on the peloton. However, the main group was little concerned about the composition of the breakaway, consisting of six riders from invited teams.
Gradually during the race, Quemeneur, Wippert, Lapthorne and De Vos all folded from the breakaway. With only Benedetti and Roth in the small leading group, the breakaway was easily caught by the peloton in the 14th lap. The native of Guelph was among the race leaders for 15 laps of 12.6 kilometers course.
Soon after the break was caught, a flurry of attacks was initiated by WorldTour teams. But the last climbs in Old Quebec were difficult even for the cycling greats, facing the challenging Côte de la Montagne, the Côte de la Potasse and the Montée de la Fabrique, featuring respective gradients of 10%, 9% and 7%. A small group of twenty riders ended up together in the last kilometer of the race.
At the finish line, it was finally Rigoberto Uran of Etixx training – Quick-Step who first crossed the finish line, thanks to a solo attack launched with 500 meters to go. The Colombian was followed by Michael Matthews of Orica-GreenEDGE, second, and Alexander Kristoff of Team Katusha third.
Within the breakaway, De Vos took advantage of the first 11 laps to earn 12 points in the King of the Mountain (KOM) standings. De Vos, unfortunately, suffered a puncture at the bottom of the 12th ascent, ending his day in the breakaway, and his aspirations to grab hold of the KOM title.
However, teammate Ryan Roth took over control of the KOM standings, cumulating 13 points at the 13th and 14th laps. Roth held out to be proclaimed King of the Mountain, acclaimed by the large crowd gathered to attend the ceremonies. This King of the Mountain title is Roth’s career first.
The top Canadian in the standings was Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Cannondale team, taking 16th place.
Montreal will host the second race of these Grand Prix Cyclistes, Sunday.
Cycling Canada is supported by Sport Canada, Louis Garneau Sports, Look Cycle, Global Relay, and Bear Mountain Resort.
