麻豆社区

Watson Lake cyclist Zach Bell gave himself the gears after failing to repeat as Pro Sprint Challenge champion in Quebec City yesterday.

Bryan Coquard (France) of Team EuropCar won the event on the first day of racing at the 2013 Grands Prix cyclistes de Qu茅bec et de Montr茅al, coming like a rocket from behind with less than 25 metres to go to steal the win on the one-km course.

At the finish line, Coquard edged Giacomo Nizzolo (Italy) of Team RadioShack Leopard, and Moreno Hofland (Netherlands) of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team.

Bell (Canada) of the Canadian National Team and R茅mi Pelletier-Roy (Canada) of the Garneau-Quebecor cycling team both advanced to the semifinals, before losing their respective duels.

Defending race champion Bell was disappointed after his day on the bike was over, having won the first two rounds.

"I was feeling pretty good after the first two rounds,鈥� said Bell, who normally rides for the Champion System Pro Cycling Team. "It was a tactical error on my part. You can't really fix it when it's done. I'll put this behind me moving forward.

"I think I was in a gear much too small when the sprint started,鈥� he explained. "Once they closed the door, a gear up would not have made a big difference. I think I should have been in a bigger gear, or jump harder. Had we all been in a drag race, I would have probably took that one.鈥�

For Bell, this race felt unusual as he raced mostly in long distance races this year.

"The first two rides, I chose to ride with bigger gears, and using the strength I built up on the road. Old habits told me to stay in smaller gear 鈥� I wasn't thinking about it really, and by the time I realized which gear I was in, it was too late.

I don't have that quick leg speed jump anymore,鈥� said the 30-year-old cyclist.

A total of 24 riders took part in this event, with each of the 19 WorldTour teams offering one rider for this innovating event launched three years ago.

Bell will compete for Canada in two UCI WorldTour races, the first going today and the second Sunday.