DUCHESNE TOP CANADIAN AT GP CYCLISTE DE MONTREAL

Montreal, September 12, 2017 – Antoine Duchesne of Team Canada was the top Canadian rider on Sunday at the GP Cycliste de Montreal WorldTour race, finishing 42nd in a chase group that also included Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy).  Italy’s Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) won the 206 kilometre race from a six rider breakaway group.

The race, which featured 17 laps of the classic Mont Royal circuit through the center of Montreal, saw two Canadian riders attack from the gun.  Canadian road champion Matteo Dal-Cin (Team Canada) and Benjamin Perry (Israel Cycling Academy) quickly opened a two minute gap, which fluctuated to as much as five and a half minutes over the next seven laps before an attack from the peloton by world champion and GP Cycliste de Quebec winner Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) caused a surge which brought the duo back after 120 kilometres.  Both Duchesne and Boivin were involved in attacks, but each was neutralized, with no Canadians making the final break of six.  In addition to Duchesne’s 42nd, Boivin was 51st, and Team Canada riders Jack Burke and Bruno Langlois were 90th and 97th, respectively.

Team Canada manager Kevin field commented, “I’m really happy with the collaboration in the field today and with the way the guys rode. I think Antoine and Guillaume did a great job at the front. It was definitely one of the harder Montréal races I’ve seen, but overall it was a great preparation for our Under-23 men before Road Worlds next week.”