09.10 - Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
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The Riders are off under sunny skies - will the weather hold?
Not sure who's more wary of whom? The Gaurd were right on the edge of the course.
There is already an escape up the road after the first lap.
The chase is only strung out because it is on a descent.
With the break up the road, the peloton is going easy - though one Caisse d'Epargne rider is looking back...
...seems his teammate Jose Rojas is disagreeing with Linus Gerdemann about something and it has come to blows.
...with a kick in return.
The break is still away on lap 7 of 15...
...but an elongaged peloton explains why the gap is coming down.
A few laps later, they know their quarry is within reach, the pace slows again.
Euskatel, Caisse, Garmin and Sky - quite a few teams worked to control the race.
The course wound through the streets of old Quebec City.
With a distinct european feel - the crowds were large and vocal all day.
With just four laps to go, A seat issue must still be attended to for Samuel Sanchez.
The course took its toll on the riders, here a Garmin rider indicates his day is over...
But the attacks kept on coming, the Candian team's Will Routley gives it a go with three laps to go.
A pile up has delayed a few riders, Hincapie is riding away, Brajkovic is picking himself off the floor, but a Footon Servetto rider has taken the brunt of the injuries.
Hincapie didn't make it far, he needs a bike change to continue.
Jani will soon retire, he'll save his legs for the Montreal course in a few days.
Ryder Hesjedal gave it all he had on the final lap, attacking on the climb before the final circuit and forming a selection with Cunego and Breschel.
Gesink is trying to bridge the gap...
Who else may be able to make the final selection?
It is Thomas Voeckler who has attacked in the last two kilometers; can he stay away?
His smile of disbelief says it all as the sprint for second winds up...
...with Boassen Hagen then Gesink; Hesjedal takes fourth.