After a poor performance in the GP Quebec, Trek had hoped to do better on the harder course in the GP Montreal. Frank Schleck had made it into the front group but was dropped on the high-speed descent in the final 3km.

Grand Prix de Cycliste de Montreal was a carbon copy of GP Quebec on Friday with Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) sprinting to victory from a small select group that arrived to the finish, and Fränk Schleck again finishing in 37th place.

The courses were similar, both run on punishing circuits with tough climbs, and Montreal played to the punchers again, with the same players rising to the forefront on the final decisive lap.

Although there were many solo stabs at victory in the run-in to the finish, a group of 21 riders came together with five kilometers to go to contest the sprint.

Gerrans easily took the win by a bike length with Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto Belisol) rounding out the top three.

Most of Trek Factory Racing was still fighting in the reduced peloton that began the Mont Royal climb (1.8kms at 8%) for its 17th and final ascent where the serious moves launched and immediately shredded the tired legs that remained. A small group moved clear over the top but a large group, including Schleck, was just behind.  

It was a mad dash down the descent into the second shorter and punchier hill where attacks continued to stretch the long line of the peloton, and in the second climb the elastic snapped.  Just over 20 riders came together after the fast, short descent and after 200 kilometers of racing they duked it out for the victory.

Although Trek Factory Racing did not better the result of GP Quebec, director Kim Andersen was pleased with how the team raced today:

“It was a better effort from the team today. We had a good meeting before the race and they did everything I asked of them and they definitely made better out on the road today. I don’t need eight at the finish, just one in the top 10. We don’t have the result, but Fränk was in the top group over the climb the last time, and normally he would have finished in the front. I can say that the team effort was there today, and that was nice to see.

"Normally Fränk would be in the front group at the finish, I am not sure what happened, but somehow he lost contact on the downhill after the second climb and could not close the gap alone in the wind. But okay, we raced well, and were there until the end, and I was happy to see that effort today"