2024 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec Race Report: Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) won the Grand Prix de Québec on Friday, ahead of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) and Ties Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike). The Jayco AlUla rider was the strongest in a sprint from a large group after just over 200 kilometres.
*** Full ‘PEZ Race Report’ very soon. ***
Québec’24 highlights
Route:
The 2024 GP de Québec course is identical to the previous three years: Sixteen laps of 12.6 kilometres for 201.6 kilometres with 3,000 metres of climbing. The start is on the Grande Allée Ouest and the first part of the race goes through the Parc de Champs-de-Bataille, which is relatively flat. After 4 kilometres the race goes down to the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, then via the Boulevard de Champlain, the peloton heads back towards the heart of the city.
There are 3 difficult kilometres in the historic centre with winding roads that constantly go up and down. After 9 kilometres there is the Côte de la Montagne: 375 metres with ramps of up to 13%. The peloton rides over the city walls, with a view of the harbour. This is followed by the climb of the Côte de la Potasse (420 metres at 9%). The riders pass the city hall and then climb the Montée de la Fabrique (190 metres at 7%). The peloton then passes the Château Frontenac, a hotel that looks like a castle and climbs towards the finish. The final kilometre on the Grande Allée has an average gradient of 4%.
Arnaud De Lie, Michael Matthews and Biniam Girmay were the favourites in Québed if the race came down to a sprint. But everyone was looking at Tadej Pogačar, who has won all his races this year except Milano-Sanremo, would he be victorious in Canada?
right from the gun a leading group formed with top young rider, Frank van den Broek. He was joined by Artem Shmidt, Félix Hamel, Jonas Walton, Antonio Polga and Filippo Ridolfo The 20-year-old Schmidt has been riding in the WorldTour.
The six took a lead of almost 6 minute, but the two WorldTour riders son showed that they were on a higher level than the others. After two hours, the Italians Polga and Ridolfo were first to be dropped. Then the Canadians Walton and Hamel couldn’t hang on and Shmidt and Van den Broek were left out front with a lead of 4 minutes.
Micael Matthews took his third win in the GP de Québec
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec Result:
1. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla in 4:45:36
2. Biniam Girmay Hailu (Eri) Intermarché-Wanty
3. Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
4. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
5. Per Strand Hagenes (Nor) Visma | Lease a Bike
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Lidl-Trek
7. Tadei Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
8. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost
9. Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
10. Edoardo Zambanini (Ita) Bahrain Victorious.
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