Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2015: Uran powers to the win in final kilometre

In sixteen rounds of 12.6 kilometres, totalling 201.6 kilometres, the first of the Laurentian Classics is a demanding, hilly race that explodes in the final lap. After a multitude of attacks Rigoberto Uran powers away in the last kilometre and he takes the win, besting the sprinters. Michael Matthews is second, Alexander Kristof third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Grand Prix de Québec

1. Rigoberto Uran (col)
2. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
3. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
4. Tom-Jelte Slagter (nld) s.t.
5. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
6. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
7. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
8. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
9. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.
10. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.

Race report
Lieuwe Westra and William Clarke are the first to get clear, but Wippert, Roth, De Vos, Benedetti, Quemeneur and Lapthorne are more successful. The six riders race to a 9 minutes lead after three rounds and then the peloton wakes up to bring the gap down to 2 minutes. In the meantime, Wippert and Lapthorne were dropped.

Benedetti goes solo with over 50 km’s left. Brian Roth joins him at the next passage, while Bak and Kuznetsov bridge the gap with 30 kms left. A little later Benedetti is dropped.

In the penultimate lap the leaders are caught and a new front group of twelve takes shape: Taaramae, Bak, Kuznetsov, Roth, Brookwalter, Alaphilippe, Barguil, Roelandts, Felline, Dillier, Kreuziger and Bardet. They are caught just before the climbs at the end of each round.

Fuglsang attacks with Kelderman and they enjoy a 15 seconds lead with one round left, but when BMC opens the chase they are caught just before the closing climbs.

After a string of attacks it is Rigoberto Uran making the right decision by powering away in the last kilometre. After some hesitation it is Mollema trying to bridge the gap. He takes the sprinters with him and they come close, but not close enough, and the Colombian wins the first Laurentian Classic of 2015