Rui extends great fitness
07 September 2012

GP Québec

Portuguese 3rd, back on a podium at a WorldTour classic in GP Québec following excellent work from Movistar Team to control the race at key moments in the Canadian race

Seventh placed at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and runner-up at the GP Ouest-France in Plouay, Rui Costa shone again against the very best in the season that confirmed him as one of the top riders in the international scene. The Portuguese cyclist crowned again the excellent job from Movistar Team in the GP Québec, the first of two UCI WorldTour events this weekend in Canada over 16 laps (201km) of a circuit including the climbs of La Potasse, La Montagne and the uphill sprint of Grande-Allée.

The squad directed by Yvon Ledanois took responsibility to chase down the eight-man breakaway that led more than half the race, an attempt where Iván Gutiérrez and Enrique Sanz fought to stay before taking on the chase along with Jesús Herrada before the final attacks. Among those, Rubén Plaza surged to keep things close for the group before the final 3k, where Gerrans (OGE) and Van Avermaet (BMC) acquired a decisive gap, impossible to bridge for Costa, who showed his great legs by winning the group sprint. The Iberian will defend his 2011 title in the GP Montréal alongside the rest of the telephone squad in just 48 hours, following a train transfer from the Canadian province’s capital.