Dates: July 11th
Written by: Josh Dillon
Stage 4: 1st place, moved into 1st overall
Josh Dillon Winning Stage 4
Coming into the stage Alister and I were sitting 3rd and 4th, respectively, about 15 seconds out of 1st. The time bonus on the finish line was only 10 seconds, so a gap from the field was needed to move either of us into the top spot by the end of the day. This was the goal, of course, and the whole team was focused on making it happen. The parcours was an 11k circuit that we would lap 10 times. The lap was highlighted by a 500 meter wall 1k from the finish line. Going into the stage we had Justin, Weller, and Coupe covering moves the first half of the race making sure to mark the top G.C. guys for Alister and I so we could save our legs for one big attack to shake the G.C. leaders. A small move of 3 riders, none of which were a threat to the overall had established just after the mid-way point. At the end of the 6th lap, going into the wall, Weller lead Coupe and I into the climb then Coupe lit up the bottom of the climb and I then jumped off his wheel across to the break just after the start of 3 laps to go. Because of the blistering pace set by Weller and then Coupe, nobody was able to follow when I bridged. I then went to work with my 3 breakaway companions, but was taking 2-3x longer pulls to encourage them to work with me for the stage win while I move into the overall lead. Unfortunately, they were feeling the earlier efforts of the break and with one lap to go I dropped them and went on my own for the final 12km with about a 1 minute lead. By the base of the final time up the wall I was feeling it and saw the lead reduced to under 40 seconds. However, I was able to hold off the G.C. leader by 19 seconds on the line which, coupled with the 10 second finish bonus for the stage win, was more than enough to assume the overall lead of the race.
On the whole, we had great execution by the team, which was further highlighted by maintaining our lead in the team G.C. as well. Personally, I was psyched to win a race solo since I haven't done so since prior to breaking my back the previous year...and rolling into the line solo is the best way to win a race.
Stage 4 Article/Pictures/Results:
http://www.tourdequebec.com/article-131.html
