GP Québec

5th place for the Portuguese under the rain, responding to good work from Movistar Team throughout the race as well as the attacks in the final lap. Gesink (BEL) takes surprise sprint win

Just live every year since their establishment in 2010, the Canadian races in the WorldTour start for Movistar Team with a sweet taste. Rui Costa came quite close to repeating his podium performance from last season in the GP Québec as he took 5th in the 202-kilometer event, with 16 laps of the already-traditional circuit through the côtes of La Montagne, La Potasse and the final uphill in the Grande-Allée. The Portuguese rider didn’t have to make any moves until the bell lap, thanks to a notable work from the telephone squad: early into the chase alongside Cannondale, looking to reduce the gaps with the early trio ahead; later, with a good attack from Jesús Herrada, who kept things under control into a dangerous move chased down with 40k remaining; and lastly, with a good leadout into the last ascents by a powerful Jonathan Castroviejo (18th).

Attentive towards the strong attack from Peter Sagan (CAN) in the last passage through La Montagne, the Portuguese rider came into a selected group of ten riders which got reached by the peloton with one kilometer remaining, yet their speed allowed them a decisive advantage for the sprint. There, Robert Gesink (BEL) surprised faster riders with an early, strong move to win, while Costa couldn’t progressed and finished behind the Dutchman, with Vichot (FDJ), Van Avermaet (BMC) and Wegmann (GRS) in second, third and fourth. The chance to get higher through the boards will come in just two days’ time: after a transfer by train, Movistar Team will take the start of the 4th GP Montréal on Sunday, the same race where the Portuguese rider raised his arms victorious just two years ago.