Bonjour but with a different accent. We're in Montreál to decide the Grands Prix Cyclistes. The riders await seven ascents of the Mont Royal, followed by a sprint to the finish to finalize the general classification. Zaini leads right now by 19 seconds over Gautier, 23 over Teklit and 31 over the next contenders.
A little over 100 kilometers to go, on the fourth ascent of the Mont Royal, the breakaway splits in two. Rujano, Abreu and Bain take 30 seconds over the rest, with the peloton at 1'30.
On the subsequent Westmount climb, the four stagglers are already caught while the three leaders are within a minute. The break might be over really soon and we have over 90k left...
But the peloton decides against such a hectic stage and lets the gap go back up to 2 minutes. Abreu decides to take off solo on the next lap, at which point Bain and Rujano give up and allow themselves to be caught by the ENI-lead pack.
Split at the top of the Westmount. Zaini, Di Maggio, Ben Nasser and their helpers are free. BNZ, Eddie Stobart and Valio missed the boat, hence they are chasing to get them back in line.
A group of twelve riders joined the ten chasers who joined Abreu. Hence we have a leading group of 23. Amongst the riders who made the jump are Gautier, Teklit, Edmondson, Kadri, Meyer and Vichot. The remainders of the peloton now at a minute, with GCN and Swisslion as designated teams at the front.
The peloton doesn't get closer but some individual riders try to close the gap on their own and somehow succeed. First Bole crosses solo, then the trio of Hugentobler, Khripta and Mollema does the same.
One lap of 29 kilometers to go. E1 now consists of 18 riders, since some helpers dropped off after finishing their duty: Amanuel, Cahyadi, Di Maggio, Mancuso Ben Nasser, Rosa Haavardsholm, Zaini Kadri, Vichot Abreu Bole Edmondson Gautier Hugentobler Khripta Meyer Teklit
At 45 seconds a new counter-attack: Pibernik (Youth leader) Hoelgaard (2nd youth, same time as Pibernik) Othman Weiss
The peloton, including Mollema, at 2 minutes.
The pace at the front drops considerably, allowing group Pibernik/Hoelgaard to catch up and the peloton to get within a minute. Ziesler takes his chance after he missed the earlier opportunities. Hategeka going after him but he's not as strong as he would like to be.
Final battle on the Mont Royal! It's Meyer who comes out with a strong attack! Edmondson, Gautier, Vichot, Teklit first to follow him.
Over the top of the hill and Meyer has a gap. The others couldn't get clear of the group.
Zaini though struggling at the back! Very bad moment for the race leader, who is in serious danger of losing contact!
11 riders now in pursuit of Meyer, the gap being 20 seconds with 11 kilometers to the finish line: Ben Nasser Di Maggio Edmondson Gautier Hoelgaard Kadri Mancuso Pibernik Teklit Vichot Weiss
Di Maggio and Gautier decide this is not quick enough and attack, hoping to join Meyer.
Zaini indeed not in the group, in fact he's already 48 seconds behind E2, thus over a minute behind Meyer. He's only 40 seconds ahead of the peloton.
At the foot of the final climb of the day, Westmount again, the duo joins Meyer. Kadri, Edmondson, Ben Nasser and Vichot also chose to attack and are closing in.
Di Maggio continuing his pace, leaving Meyer and Gautier behind who were caught by Kadri and Ben Nasser. Edmondson, Vichot, Teklit, Pibernik and Hoelgaard at 20 seconds.
Going back to Zaini, who starts his recovery ride. He's only 30 seconds behind the group Edmondson now, closing on the leaders but not quite enough yet to be in with a shot of winning the race. There should not be any hesitations at the front.
5000 meters left. Di Maggio with 16 seconds over the four chasers. Group Teklit at 50 seconds, where Zaini found his way back!
Kadri accelerates from the chasing group. Ben Nasser and Gautier responds but Meyer can't, paying the price for his early attack.
Three kilometers and suddenly the gap is only seven seconds! Meyer at 21, group Zaini at 42.
Over the next two kilometers the three chasers do not get closer, Di Maggio with eight seconds according to GPS data. He's twelve seconds behind Gautier in the GC, but is set to be receiving 20 bonus seconds for his win.
One might remind me of the commentator's curse but 500 meters and nothing's changed. Kadri opened the sprint from behind but Ben Nasser is already alongside him. Gautier caught napping at the worst time. If the Frenchman were to take bonus seconds and finish in the same time as Di Maggio they'd tie in the GC. Imagine the scenes!
Di Maggio appears to be inaware of this novelty, as he starts celebrating with 200 meters to go. Imagine if Gautier overtakes Kadri or Ben Nasser, finishes in the same time and takes the GC!
Kadri second, Ben Nasser third. The jury gives them a gap of ten seconds, either the GPS was off or Di Maggio goes faster with his hands in the air. Anyway, this means the Italian is the winner unless Zaini shows up within one second.
Fourth place for Gautier, coming in at +21. So both Kadri and Ben Nasser pass him as well. Kadri taking the second place in the GC virtue of bonus seconds, Ben Nasser completing the podium with Gautier just outside in fourth place.
Meyer livened up the race, for which he should be applauded, but it did not bring him the win. Fifth place, 35 seconds from Di Maggio.
Teklit and Vichot up next, the latter outsprinting the former for sixth. We're at 1'02 already, meaning Teklit drops at least five places from second, possibly six depending on Zaini.
Speaking of, Zaini takes eight place at 1'10, which is enough to keep Teklit behind but not enough to defend the jersey. It was already clear Di Maggio becomes the winner but now we have the confirmation. Zaini dropping to sixth behind Kadri, Ben Nasser, Gautier and Meyer as well.
Pibernik ninth in the same time, defending his youth jersey against Hoelgaard who finished eleventh with Edmondson in between. Vichot, Pibernik and Edmondson also complete the top ten in the GC.
Weiss best of the rest on the stage in 12th, winning the sprint from Haavardsholm. In the GC it's the other way around, Haavardsholm beating Weiss.
Othman and Ziesler finish at + 4'48 and + 5'52, dropping out of the top ten to 17th and 22nd respectively.
Gautier takes the points jersey for the best accumulated finish position over the two stages. Delvaux best team due to having two guns at the front, Kadri and Vichot.
