He was the main favourite and after several unsuccessful attempts, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) finally won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal in style on Sunday. The in-form Slovak, fresh from a successful North-American campaign in Colorado and Alberta, timed his move to perfection, 5.5 km from the line to finish on his own on Avenue du Parc.

“I finally get a victory from this adventure here in Canada. It’s a very good test for the World Championships,” said the Cannondale cannonball, who executed one of his spectacular wheelies after crossing the line. The Slovak, who has won seven races during his North-American stay, upstaged Italy’s Simone Ponzi (Astana) by four seconds while local favourite Ryder Hesjedal equalled his 2010 finishing on the flanks of Mont Royal in third place, five seconds adrift. “I saw that the others were a little bit tired and that’s why I went after Ryder. My chances at the World Championships are not so great because Slovakia is a small country and we don’t have such a great team. Winning one of the races here in Quebec was my real end of the season objective,” he said.

Sagan found himself in the group of 15 to 20 favourites who remained in the contention in an eventful last lap with attacks from all sides. Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec winner Robert Gesink surged twice in the finale but his moves were a bit preposterous and he was reined in each time. Tour de France champion Chris Froome was also seen on the move on the Camilien�€Houde climb, but the Briton, whose Team Sky were depleted by a crash with five laps to go, was quickly reeled in. Even Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) was seen trying his luck on Camilien-Houde with one lap to go before conceding defeat.