After a good 2 months away from racing, I get back into action at the GP Ouest France - Plouay. Normally this is billed as a race for the Sprinters, but the tricky circuit could lead to late attacks or the breakaway taking the victory.

Sebastian Turgot and Goredema Chisiza will be the team's main focus for the race, but I will look at making a late attack for the win.

A large group of 10 riders form the day's break, and Perrig Quemeneur as part of it. I sat close to the front of the peleton, and just wanted to settle into the race.

Giant, Orica and Sky set a high pace during the race, and with 7km to go, the break was pulled back. On the sharp climb on the final lap of the race, I made my move for the victory. The legs felt rusty, but I opened up a small gap.

I would be caught with 1.7km to go, as the Sprinter's came past me. Moreno Mosre (Cannonndale) took a surprise win, with Haussler (Sky) and Gavazzi (Wanty) taking the other podium places. Turgot was the highest Europcar rider in 6th, as I finished in 13th.

1	Moreno Moser	Cannondale Pro Cycling	5h58'37
2	Heinrich Haussler	Sky ProCycling	s.t.
3	Francesco Gavazzi	Wanty - Groupe Gobert	s.t.
4	Andrew Fenn	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
5	Armindo Fonseca	Bretagne - Séché	s.t.
6	Sébastien Turgot	Team Europcar	s.t.
7	Sébastien Chavanel	FDJ.fr	s.t.
8	Juan José Lobato	Movistar Team	s.t.
9	Michael Matthews	Orica - GreenEDGE	s.t.
10	Goredema Chisiza	Team Europcar	s.t.
...
13	Martijn North	Team Europcar	s.t.

the_hoyle wrote:
@HuDCC: Panasnoic are just before my time as well, but I know of them. I won't worry about it

@sutty: It is more cycling wisdom than old age

The Brussels Cycling Classic is my final race before I race the three biggest races of my season's end - The Canadian Classics and Il Lombardia. Flat in profile, it doesn't offer many opportunities to me, so instead I will carry on fine tuning my legs, and working for the team.

Goredema Chisiza will lead the team in the sprint, where I also expect to make up part of the Lead-Out train.

As expected, it was a quiet race for me, particularly over the first two-thirds of the profile. I kept myself hidden in the peleton, keeping the legs moving, and also working as bottle carrier for Chisiza and the others on the team.

I offered my help in the Lead-Out and everything looked to be under control. That was until Fabian Cancellara (Trek) attacked with 7km to go, and sent panic through the sprinter's team. Maxime Bouet set too high of a pace in the chase, and I struggled to hold his wheel. Lotto and OmegaPharma swamped me, and with that, Goredema chances of the victory were gone. He would sprint well for 4th, as Moreno Hofland (Belkin) took the win. Nacer Bouhanni (Sky) and Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto) completed the Top 3.

1	Moreno Hofland	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	4h45'36
2	Nacer Bouhanni	Sky ProCycling	s.t.
3	Jürgen Roelandts	Lotto - Belisol	s.t.
4	Goredema Chisiza	Team Europcar	s.t.
5	Marcel Kittel	Giant-Shimano	s.t.
6	Tom Boonen	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
7	Elia Viviani	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
8	Sébastien Turgot	Team Europcar	s.t.
9	Joeri Stallaert	Veranclassic - Doltcini	s.t.
10	Frederique Robert	Telenet - Fidea	s.t.
...
17	Martijn North	Team Europcar	s.t.

I came into the Canadian Classics hoping to be in better form that what I actually was. His time last year, I had come to the GP de Quebec on the back of a GC win in Limousin and a 2nd place on GC in Tour of Alberta. This year, I was struggling to support the team in Sprints, and I didn't feel confident at all.

The profile differed ever so slightly from last year, and seems to be very similar to the GP de Montreal, which I won. I would lead the team, and hoping for at least a Top 10 finish.

As a large break of 11 riders attacked off the front, I just wanted to settle into a nice rhythm. Europcar had missed the acceleration for the break to form, and my relaxation wasn't helped by the angry shouting of Jean-Rene in my ear.

Tinkoff and BMC set the pace in the peleton, and as the break's gap dropped to just over a minute with 11km to go, I made my move. My legs felt ok, and I opened a good 45" gap on the favourites behind. 5km to go, I was joined by Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff), as the favourites tried to organise the chase behind.

Under the flamme rouge, and our gap was down to 22", and I was fighting to hold the Czech rider's wheel. As he accelerated for the line, I struggled to close the gap.

Kreuziger comfortably took the win in Quebec, as behind I was in a world of pain. I crossed the line in 3rd, just being beaten by Philippe Gilbert (BMC) on the line. Whilst I should be happy with a podium, I was disappointed that better preparation could have given me the victory.

1	Roman Kreuziger	Tinkoff-Saxo	5h27'17
2	Philippe Gilbert	BMC Racing Team	+ 15
3	Martijn North	Team Europcar	s.t.
4	Tejay Van Garderen	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
5	Alberto Contador	Tinkoff-Saxo	s.t.
6	Bauke Mollema	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
7	Eduard Vorganov	Katusha Team	s.t.
8	Fabio Aru	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
9	Rigoberto Urán Urán	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
10	Wilco Kelderman	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.

My performance at the GP de Quebec had given me some self-confidence, but in the back of my mind, I was really doubting my ability to win back-to-back racing at the GP de Montreal. In the warm ups, and recon rides around the circuit, I was really struggling to turn a pedal, and felt very stiff all the way up until the race start.

As with Quebec, the 2015 course in Montreal had also seen some changes. There was no longer the double climb, and instead it was a downhill to the line. Any attacks off the front leading to the finish could be difficult to pull back.

Just like in Quebec, I wanted to quickly find a rhythm and hope that my legs would loosen for attacks later in the day. A group of 5 riders formed the day's break, and as Jean-Rene began to rant again about the lack of presence from a Europcar rider, I took out my earpiece. I was slowly growing to dislike Bernaudeau to closer it got to me leaving the team.

Also like in Quebec, I would make the first move, and try and attack. Two laps remained when the break was caught, and I looked to jump clear before the downhill to the line and the last lap. I was joined by the favourites, who made it look surprising easy to follow my pace. My legs had nothing more to give.

Philippe Gilbert (BMC) attacked on the final lap, and as everyone tried to react, I was stuck in the saddle. My legs were like jelly, and just turning the pedal was becoming difficult. The Belgian took the stage win, with Sergio Henao (Movitar) and Bauke Mollema (Belkin) completing the podium. I rolled across the line in 10th place and headed straight to the team bus. I had held Mollema's wheel coming into the sprint, but when he jumped out the saddle, I went backwards. There was nothing more I could do.

1	Philippe Gilbert	BMC Racing Team	5h26'39
2	Sergio Luis Henao	Movistar Team	+ 38
3	Bauke Mollema	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
4	Simon Spilak	Katusha Team	s.t.
5	Roman Kreuziger	Tinkoff-Saxo	s.t.
6	Zdenek Stybar	IAM Cycling	s.t.
7	Rigoberto Urán Urán	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
8	Richie Porte	Sky ProCycling	s.t.
9	Tony Martin	OmegaPharma - Quick Step	s.t.
10	Martijn North	Team Europcar	s.t.