GP Montréal

Portuguese rider shows again bravery and good form after great help from all Movistar Team riders in even crazier race than Québec. Nordhaug (SKY) takes late effort to fruition

All sights were on him after the spectacular win claimed in 2011 and Rui Costa did not disappoint at a demanding GP Montréal, second and last of the WorldTour races in Canada this weekend over 17 laps and a total 206km over a circuit including the climbs of Camilien-Houde and the Polytechnique. At the first one, Rui Costa En la primera de ellas, Rui Costa kept the first places during the last two loops, attentive against possible attacks after great help from Movistar Team to keep him strong and safe, always compact with the effort from Ventoso, Pardilla, Plaza, Herrada or Visconti -author of a short break before the last lap.-

At the final climb, an attack from Nordhaug (SKY) made a short group of 20 riders, where Rui Costa saved his chances for a likely group sprint. Finally, the effort from the Norwegian rider took Moser (LIQ) and Kolobnev (KAT) on his wheel at the 4-km-to-go mark, beating them in the uphill sprint while Costa, who overtook the front part of the field in his last rush, snatched another top ten finish in a top-tier event, the fifth in the 2012 seaosn after Romandie (3rd), Suisse (GC victory), Plouay (2nd) and Québec (3rd).