Tadej Pogacar wins the Montreal GP in the sprint ahead of Van Aert

The Slovenian won in a false flat sprint rising to five ahead of Wout van Aert. (Jumbo Visma). Italian Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) took 3rd place ahead of Briton Adam Yates (INEOS-Grenadiers) and Frenchman David Gaudu (FDJ-Groupama).

After a regrouping less than two laps from the finish of the event which includes 18 and a total of 221.4 kilometers, two men left: the Italian Simone Velasco and the Dane Frederik Wandahl. The duo had a 38-second lead at the penultimate crossing of the line (12.3 km). Daniel Felice Martinez launched the hunt on the last lap shortly before the long climb of the circuit (2.3 km at 6%). Tadej Pogacar then followed him with van Aert in his wheel. The two escapees were caught and left behind 11 kilometers from the finish.

After suffering to stay in contact, Wout van Aert managed to stay with the best at the top, namely Pogacar, Yates, Bagioli and Gaudu. Victory would be decided between them. Yates then Gaudu tried in the last kilometers to force the decision. Van Aert was not surprised. But in the final sprint, the green jersey of the Tour de France and world N.2 got a little stuck, being unable to go up the world N.1.

Pogacar, who took his 14th victory of the season, succeeds Greg Van Avermaet who won the previous edition in 2019. The Rio Olympic champion has not won since then. The Covid-19 prevented the running of the race in 2020 and 2021.

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