GP Ouest-France

Portuguese blows bunch up through last climb, surrenders to Boasson Hagen (SKY) at final kilometer. Valverde, 6th at action-packed Vuelta finish in Montjuïc

Rui Costa went just one step behind the victory at the GP Ouest-France, one of the final UCI World Tour events of the season held at Plouay on Sunday over nine laps of a 27-km circuit -243k in total- and the ascents of Lezot, Sainte-Anne and Ty-The Portuguese rider from Movistar Team was a big protagonist into the final lap, where the bunch, pursuing the day’s break for the opening seven laps, took their heart out to keep gaps short in the following moves.

Costa tried his way solo for the first time with 13k from the finish, stringing out a bunch he’d blow up definitely at Ty-Marrec, just 4k from the finish. His brave move was only brought down by Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY), who took a strong relay to leave the Portuguese behind and force him to fight against the bunch and conserve an excellent second place that consolidates his great season, with the Tour de Suisse overall as icing for the cake.

QUOTES / Rui Costa: “Seeing that no one was moving around on the course, I decided to wait until the final climb and attack with around six kilometers to go. I was able to open a nice gap and, from that point, it was just giving my 100% until the finish line. Before reaching the final kilometer, Hagen caught me and took a strong relay to launch the sprint. Provided that he’s such a hard guy, it was impossible for me to stay on his wheel. Looking at the race circumstances, it was a very good race for me, and I’m satisfied with the result and the evolution I’m following. Everything seems to be going through the right way. I want to thank the team for all support given and all the fans, especially my Portuguese people, for being close to me throughout this season”.