Les Mardis Cyclistes: July 05, 2011 Jean-Samuel Deshaies wins stage 5

Stage 5 Results : Top 5:

1 Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins)

2 Mathieu Roy (Gaspesien / Passion Velo)

3 Hugo Houle (SpiderTech p/b C10)

4 Benjamin Martel (Team Spirit GTH Canondale)

5 Jean-Michel Lachance (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins)

Leaders after 5 stages:

1   Jean Francois Laroche (Fantino Mondello Cycles Regis)
2   Martin Gilbert (SpiderTech p/b C10)
3   Mathieu Roy (Gaspesien / Passion Vélo)
4   Pierrick Naud (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins)
5   David Veilleux (Europcar)
6   Dominic Chalifoux (Trek-Bontrager)
7   Erik Lyman (Team Spirit GTH Cannondale)
8   Pierre- Etienne Boivin (Amical)
9   Jean- Michel Lachance (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins)
10 Jean- Samuel Deshaies (Rocky Mountain-Desjardins)

Complete results and stage 5 points summary

Stage 5:

• A ten minute downpour just prior to the race created slippery conditions which contributed to multiple crashes throughout the evening.
• The SpiderTech team rolled with 4 riders: Charly Vives, Hugo Houle, Guillaume Boivin and Martin Gilbert.
• Pierrick Naud and the Rocky Mountain team were very aggressive in creating and pursuing several break away attempts throughout the race.
• David Veilleux seemed to play it safe throughout the evening as did Jean-Francois Laroche and Martin Gilbert
• The peleton remained mainly intact until Jean-Michel Lachance's dramatic solo break away attempt late in the race which was eventually spoiled halfway through the final lap by a chase group including one of his own team mates who incidentally went on to win the race. 

Mardis Cyclistes Official Press Release:

It was Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Rocky Mountain) who won Tuesday evening’s stage 5 of the Mardis Cyclistes races. Mathieu Roy (Gaspésien) in second and Hugo Houle (Spidertech p/b C10) in third completed the podium. Deshaies won in difficult conditions with the race beginning minutes after a heavy downpour that left the race circuit wet and slippery.  Deshaies stopped the clock at 1:02:32 in this 50km race that was marked by numerous crashes and several breakaways.

The field of 87 pro-elite men cyclists included four reigning Canadian champions: Hugo Houle, who is the new 2011 Road and ITT national champ; David Veilleux (Europcar), the elite men’s criterium champ; François Doyon (Quilicot- Rackultra), the Masters A criterium and road champ; and Pierre L’Écuyer (FADOQ), the Masters D road champ.

Jean-Michel Lachance (Rocky Mountain) and William Blackburn (Gaspésien) led an attack on the 23rd of 31 laps, but a group of four cyclists pedaled off fast in their pursuit. Blackburn couldn’t hang on and Lachance was left alone far out in front before being cruelly overtaken by the four pursuers only 600m from the finish of the 50km race.

It was an unlucky evening for Lachance. “I am happy that my team won. I tried my best but it didn’t work, but I knew that my team mates were behind me,” commented Lachance about the victory of his team mate, Deshaies.

Deshaies seemed somewhat surprised with his first Mardis win. “To be honest, I thought that I was just going to help out my team mates here this evening. I am still tired after moving into a new apartment this past weekend and hadn’t touched my bike for nine days. On top of that, I am fighting a cold. But I rode smart here and knew that my chances were good in a bunch sprint,” explained the 19-year-old from Abitibi.  His win this evening pushed up his cumulative standing to third place now that five of ten stages have been run.

Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello), the 2010 series champion, added to his overall point standing for the 2011 although he only finished seventh here this evening. Asked how he felt after the race, Laroche smiled, replying, “I didn’t crash.” Laroche also expressed concern for rival cyclist Guillaume Boivin (Spidertech p/b C10) who was among those crashing.

Posted in: Les Mardis Cyclistes 2011,News,Pasquale Stalteri,Races 2011,Reportage