Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2019: Matthews outsprints Sagan and Van Avermaet

Michael Matthews sprints to victory in the Grand Prix de Québec. The Australian outguns Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet at the end of the lumpy circuit race with an elevation gain of nearly 3,000 metres. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2019

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
4. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
5. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
6. Tom-Jelte Slagter (nld) s.t.
7. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
8. Timo Roosen (nld) s.t.
9. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
10. Benoît Cosnefroy (fra) s.t.

Race report
The breakaway six – Julien Bernard, Evan Burtnik, Luis Mas, Guy Sagiv, Adam Roberge and Gavin Mannion – race to a lead of 8 minutes before the peloton takes the reins. Roberge falls back, literally, after a crash.

Mas goes solo with 40 kilometres remaining when the gap has fallen below 1 minute. Mannion rejoins him. The American is the last rider to be reeled in with more than two laps remaining.

Despite some attacks the peloton tackles the hilly zone in the last 3.5 kilometres together.

Alaphilippe strikes with 2 kilometres remaining. Sagan, Van Aermaet, Stuyven, Ulissi and Haig go with him, but the main group rejoins them inside the last 400 metres.

Matthews is still relatively fresh and he outguns Sagan and Van Avermaet with a powerful sprint to win the race for the second year in a row.

Another interesting read: route 2019 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.