July 18/19 19:34 pm - Riley Pickrell Wins Abitibi Stage 4

Posted by Editoress on 07/18/19
 

Riley Pickrell (Team Canada) scored the first Canadian victory on Thursday evening at the 51st edition of the Tour de l'Abitibi, winning the fourth stage in Malartic, Quebec, with an impressive sprint.  There was no change to the overall standings, with Michael Garrison (Team USA) continuing to hold the Brown Jersey as overall race leader.

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Despite numerous attacks on the 52.8 kilometre stage, the field came into the final five kilometres all together, with Team Canada working to set up Pickrell for the win.  The Victoria rider won three stages of the race last year.

"The team plan for today was to control the front of the race," said Pickrell.  "We wanted to make sure that no dangerous breaks got away and bring it down to a bunch kick.  Jacob Rubuliak and Tristan Jussaume did that job perfectly; they worked for the first 40 kilometres of the race keeping it all together and keeping a high average speed of 50 kilometres per hour.  In the last ten kilometres we could have the rest of the team come to the front and take over, and bring us in to the finish.  In the last three kilometres it got pretty dicey, but the boys kept me at the front.  In the last kilometre it was full speed ahead, and in the last corner with 300 metres I got a gap and held it to the finish."

"We had a good one today," said Kevin Field, team manager.  "The boys were organized and rode great.  The whole team was great and managed the front really well in the final five kilometres."

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