Benoît Cosnefroy wins GP de Québec after monstruous late attack as Matthews and Van Aert are left for minor places

The GP de Québec is often a race finishing with a reduced sprint, but bravery was rewarded today in Canada as Benoît Cosnefroy launched a devastating attack near the finale and held off the peloton at the finish line.

The day saw an early move which carried out the race's pace throughout most of the race, with Damiano Caruso (Bahrain - Victorious), Stan van Tricht (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Sébastien Grignard (Lotto Soudal), Hugo Toumire (Cofidis) and Carson Miles (Canada National Team). The quintet never had much freedom, with Jumbo-Visma and Team BikeExchange - Jayco controlling the pace.

The first attacks came with 41 kilometers to go, as Quinn Simmons, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Simon Clarke, Andrea Piccolo and Jan Tratnik attacked off the peloton and joined the break. Eventually however, the group was caught by the peloton with 23 kilometers to go. The penultimate lap saw further attacks, as Alberto Bettiol sparked a dangerous move in the run-up to the line, forcing many of the favourites including Wout van Aert to react and building a large group in front.

There was regrouping however in the following kilometers. Neilson Powless, Michael Storer, Nathan van Hooydonck andd Mikkel Honoré attacked afterwards forming a new front group, with Storer going solo with six kilometers to go, however with the peloton leading the way into the final hilltops. Jumbo-Visma entered in front, but had no immediate response to an attack from Benoît Cosnefroy on the penultimate hilltop, who went solo, with some riders responding but with no coordinated chase.

Cosnefroy had the distance to arrive at the finish alone to take a great win. The sprinters came with speed from behind, but too late, with Michael Matthews riding to second place and Biniam Girmay to third place, Wout van Aert rode into fourth as Jumbo-Visma looked to respond to Cosnefroy's attack with Laporte.