Two Quebec teammates, Hugo Houle and Guillaume Boivin, were disappointed with their performance at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, but not for the same reasons.

After just a few laps, Houle decided to throw in the towel with just under 40 kilometers to go. The champion was able to watch the rest of the race with his parents and some friends who were happy to see him at home.

After his incredible Tour de France and a historic win on July 19th at Foix, Houle stayed on top with 2nd place at the Arctic Race in Norway but had to slow down last month. The tiredness has done its job.

“The observation is that I have no legs at all. The sensations were really catastrophic and I had no energy. I knew it was going to be very complicated. The legs were heavy and I could not do anything. I’m disappointed, I was hoping it would get better. I would have liked to give more for the people here,” explained the cyclist from Team Israel-Premier Tech.

Mechanical breakage

For his part, Guillaume Boivin had to change bikes at the very end of the event, ruining his chances of success. A hole in the road changed the position of his saddle several inches.

“Big disappointment. It was perfect until one lap before the end. I had a problem with my ‘wheel’ and with the change it was over. I was really good and it was a perfect race. You didn’t see me from the race and that is usually a good sign here. As a good Quebecer it’s ch… but I was thinking about Montreal because the legs are good,” said the 33-year-old athlete.

For him, the title of the best Canadian in 45th place wasn’t really a consolation prize. “We’re not fighting for that,” he said before saying goodbye.

One last time

A few hours after his retirement, Antoine Duchesne wasn’t in the same mood. Emotions prevailed, but with smiles instead of tears.

“I’m still happy. I was in my head all day. If six weeks of no running, butt pain, hamstring inflammation and a broken hand hadn’t won races, it would be known! I’m really glad I didn’t look too crazy. I believed in the fairy tale, but it didn’t happen,” said the Quebecer, who took the time to enjoy the last kilometer on the Grande Allée.

As the only member of the national team to finish the event, Lévisien Pier-André Côté was still deeply disappointed not to be able to wear his distinctive 2022 Canadian Road Champion jersey, stripped of an obscure rule not always applied in the capital him of personal satisfaction.

“They will ask the commissioners why. I suffered a little sooner than I thought. I’m not too disappointed because I gave everything I had.