GP Montréal

Herrada shows physically and strategically stronger than ever against the WorldTour elite, nears (14th) last Friday's Québec result in GP Montréal. Gerrans becomes first Canadian double winner

Picture ©: Patrick Beaudry

Jesús Herrada responded perfectly to the leading role he acquired in the Canadian WorldTour races, as a result of his recent, brilliant form and the Blues’ three-block division into the final week of the Vuelta, and even went a step further. At the final lap of the GP Montréal -205km over the climbs of Camilien-Houde and la Polytechnique-, the Spaniard from the telephone squad offered unexpectedly good performance to respond his team-mates’ nice work, splitting the group and starting the pursuit of a four-man break -Polanc (LAM) was caught with 10k left after ammassing a 12′ gap- which only the favourites could bring back.

Herrada made two interesting splits: one after the Mont-Royal, caused by accelerations from Costa (LAM) and Mollema (BEL); and another, with just 5km remaining, where he also took some turns to keep it alive. However, an Orica-GreenEdge majority in the pursuit group neutralized both attempts and set up the sprint for its leader Simon Gerrans, clearly stronger than the rest of the field like two days prior. Herrada, 14th, almost equalled Québec’s result; Rojas, Plaza and Intxausti also finished after staying with the favourites till the final lap.