With a team mostly made up of climbers, Trek had a hard time against the puncheurs in the Grand Prix Quebec. The team hopes to do better in the Grand Prix Montreal whose harder course suits them better.

For its fifth edition the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec covered 11 laps of an 18.1-kilometer loop for a total of 199 kilometers. As in years past it all came down to the final punchy, stair-stepping uphill kilometers to the finish line in Old Québec, which gives a spectacular and thrilling finale each year.

The peloton was one large bunch as they started the crucial last five kilometers: a series of corners and sharp inclines that make positioning of upmost importance. By the final kilometer the inevitable splits had formed, and a select group of 19 riders moved clear. 

Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) won the uphill kick, the only rider to overcome a surprising early jump by Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano) who caught everyone off-guard. Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin Sharp) finished third.

Trek Factory Racing’s highest finisher was Fränk Schleck in 37th place (+29”), with Matthew Busche, Riccardo Zoidl and Robert Kiserlovski finishing with a group 12 seconds later.

Director Kim Andersen was disappointed that the team did not have anyone in the front positions, but he was also realistic about the Quebec course, explaining that it suited punchy climbers:

“The result was not what we were looking for. Of course I did not think we had anyone that could win it because you really need to be a puncher today and there was still a peloton of at least 160 riders for the last time up the climb. It was really a big, big fight to be in good position and I am pretty sure that we were not well placed.

"The hope was that there would have been a selection before, but this was not the situation. It’s a really high quality of riders that is here, and today was really controlled by GreenEdge and Garmin. We should have been in the breakaway that went with three laps to go… there is not much to say, nothing exceptional for us today, and I really hope to be better on Sunday.”

Trek Factory Racing next looks to the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal on Sunday, a course held on a shorter circuit with a longer climb, and should better suit the team. At least on paper. What unfolds out on the road is never predictable, said Andersen, but whatever happens, the hope is the team will have a better showing than today:

“Montreal should suit us a little bit better, but again it will be determined by how it is raced. It will be difficult to win, but there is more climbing meters with a longer climb so it should be better for us. We will fight hard again, and I really hope the [results] will be more favorable than today."