BOIVIN FINISHES WITH LEADERS AT GP QUEBEC

Quebec, September 9, 2017 – Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) was the top Canadian finisher on Friday at the GP Cycliste de Quebec, in Quebec City, finishing with the lead group in 29th place.  World champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) recorded his 100th professional victory, holding off Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) in a sprint after 201 kilometres of racing.

Bruno Langlois was the top rider for Team Canada in 52nd, finishing 17 seconds back.  Other Canadian results were 56th Antoine Duchesne (Team Canada), 77th Jack Burke (Team Canada), 99th Ryan Anderson (Team Canada), 107th Matteo Dal-Cin (Team Canada), 141st Benjamin Perry (Israel Cycling Academy).

Team Canada manager Kevin Field said, “I feel like we achieved about 50% of our plan. The good thing about these races is that it provides an opportunity to give experience to our riders who are not on the WorldTour.  For sure, there were some mistakes, but they can be turned into a positive learning experience for the young guys.”

The 12.6 kilometre circuit took riders along the St Lawrence River and through the Old Town of Quebec City, with two climbs on each of the 16 laps.  Despite rain during the week, and forecasts of rain, race day was dry and sunny.

A small breakaway of four riders went clear halfway into the first lap. Tyler Williams (Israel Cycling Academy) launched the attack and was quickly joined by Pier-Andre Cote (Team Canada), Baptist Planckaert (Katusha Alpecin) and Tosh Van Der Sane (Lotto Soudal).  The gap had grown to over nine minutes after 40 kilometres of racing, when the peloton finally began to chase, but they had only pulled back a minute by the 100 kilometre mark. At 16 kilometres to go the final rider – Planckaert – was caught, with the peloton together at the start of the final lap.  Sagan went to the front in the final 150 metres, leading the remainder of the field across the finish line.