Van Aert again strongest at Heusden-Zolder
Wout van Aert has won at Heusden-Zolder for the third year in a row. On the fast...
Team Jumbo-Visma has failed to challenge for victory at the GP de Montréal. Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte represented the Dutch squad in the group of favourites in the race’s closing stages, but the pair never got close to victory in the Canadian race.
The peloton set off in rainy conditions for more than 200 kilometres of racing, with eighteen local laps. The course was particularly suited to climbers, with three challenging climbs.
After a relatively quiet opening stage, the pace picked up towards the end, and Laporte was forced to let go. The Frenchman later rejoined the group, which also included Benoot. On the final local lap, Laporte had to let go again, and Benoot rode in one of the groups behind winner Adam Yates to finish 11th.
"I needed just a few percentage points more to ride for the podium”, Benoot said. "The harsh weather conditions combined with the difficult course made it a race for the climbers. I felt great until the last lap. In the last ten kilometres, I rode at the limit. When Yates attacked, I couldn't follow. For a while, it looked like I was still in contention for third, but by the end of the race, I was finished. A top-ten finish still seemed possible, but unfortunately, I just did not manage.”
"In the last ten kilometres, I rode at the limit"
Nevertheless, Benoot looked back on the two races in Canada with a sense of satisfaction. "It was six years since I last rode in these races. It is an excellent experience to ride here. It is also a good prelude to the 2026 World Championships in Montréal. I noticed in the last two races that I’m in good shape towards the end of the season. That is a pleasant observation. Hopefully, I can end the cycling year well in the coming weeks.”