Remco Evenepoel won the Grand Prix de Québec in Canada on Friday, taking his first victory in the race, while Paul Seixas finished outside the top 20 on his return to competition.
The French rider was racing for the first time in seven weeks, since finishing fourth overall at the Tour de France, and with the World Championships two weeks away.
Seixas said before the race that he felt ready, but that the race itself would be the best test. He said it would not be easy because there was a lot of competition, adding that it was good to be able to gauge himself against his rivals and that it would be a good test to validate his preparation.
Evenepoel launches decisive attack
Even without Tadej Pogacar, Evenepoel proved a major rival for the French team's leader for the World Championships. The Belgian rider attacked around 30 kilometers from the finish alongside Giulio Ciccone and Anthon Charmig, then did the bulk of the work at the front of the breakaway, with a lead that never exceeded around twenty seconds.
Behind them, the chasing group never managed to organize itself, despite Seixas's attempts to rally the other riders. Accelerations from Tom Pidcock, Quinn Simmons and Matteo Jorgenson also failed to bring the leading trio back.
In the sprint, Evenepoel held off a late charge from Ciccone to win the race for the first time.
Seixas caught up in late crash
In the bunch sprint behind the leaders, Seixas had a scare when he touched wheels with another rider. He did not fall, but his change of direction caused Juan Ayuso to crash.
Two weeks before the World Championships
Seixas finished fourth overall at this year's Tour de France. Evenepoel is the reigning Olympic road race and time trial champion and a former world champion. Both riders are now heading into the final buildup to the World Championships.
