SPRINT CHALLENGE KICKS OFF GRANDS PRIX CYCLISTES DE QUEBEC ET MONTRÉAL

Some of the World’s best cyclists converge to Quebec City.

(Quebec, QC – September 12, 2013) Bryan Coquard (France) of Team EuropCar won the Pro Sprint Challenge on the first day of racing at the 2013 Grands Prix cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, coming like a rocket from behind with less than 25 meters to go to steal the win.

Coquard edged at the finish line Giacomo Nizzolo (Italy) of Team RadioShack Leopard and Moreno Hofland (Netherlands) of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team.

Zach Bell (Canada) of the Canadian National Team and Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Canada) of the Garneau-Quebecor cycling team both advanced to the semi-finals, and lost their respective duals.

For Zach Bell, the defending Champion of this event, the race was disappointed after his day on the bike was over, having won the first two rounds. “I was feeling pretty good after the first two rounds. It was a tactical error on my part. You can’t really fix it when it’s done. I’ll put this behind me moving forward,” admitted Bell, who normally rides for Champion System Pro Cycling team.

“I think I was in a gear much too small when the sprint started. Once they closed the door, a gear up would not have made a big difference. I think I should have been in a bigger gear, or jump harder. Had we all been in a drag race, I would have probably took that one,” said Zach Bell.

For Bell, this race felt unusual as he raced mostly in long distance races this year.

“The first two rides, I chose to ride with bigger gears, and using the strength I built up on the road. Old habits told me to stay in smaller gear… I wasn’t thinking about it really, and by the time I realized in which gear I was in, it was too late. I don’t have that quick leg speed jump anymore.”

A total of 24 riders took part in this event, with each of the 19 WorldTour teams offering one rider for this innovating event launched three years ago.

Five additional Canadians were part of the race: Guillaume Boivin for Cannondale Pro Cycling, Dominique Rollin of FDJ.fr, Hugo Houle with AG2R La Mondiale, as well as two other members from the Garneau-Quebecor cycling team: the Canadian Criterium Champion Pierrick Naud, as well as Geoffroy Dusseault as the Canadian Sprint Challenge winner.

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