Isaac del Toro won GP Montréal with a forceful uphill sprint, beating Paul Seixas in a high-level World Championships rehearsal.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider came around the final bend with Seixas still alongside him. He then launched with about 200 meters remaining and pulled clear on the rising finish.
Seixas, racing for Decathlon CMA CGM, took second after making the decisive attack on the last ascent. Brandon McNulty gave UAE Team Emirates XRG another podium place in third.
McNulty outsprinted Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek for the final step of the podium. UAE Team Emirates XRG therefore placed two riders in the top three.
GP Montréal doubles as a Worlds test
Sunday’s race carried extra weight because the Montréal circuit will return at the UCI Road World Championships in two weeks.
The race used the same lap as the Worlds finishing circuit, though the total distance was 60km shorter. That made the Canadian WorldTour one-day race a valuable preview for several leading contenders.
The rhythm differed from Friday’s more chaotic race in Quebec. Montréal followed a more familiar pattern, with the hills steadily reducing the field.
The contest sharpened with around two hours left. Juan Ayuso of Lidl-Trek attacked after the day’s main breakaway had been caught.
Six riders later joined Ayuso, creating a dangerous seven-rider move with 50km to race. Ben Healy of EF Education-EasyPost soon became the most aggressive rider in that group.
Healy attacked his companions with three laps remaining on Côte Camillien-Houde. The climb measures 1.9km at 7 percent and shaped the final selection.
Maxim Van Gils of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe initially matched Healy. Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates then fought back over the top, forming a leading trio.
Seixas forces the decisive split
On the following lap, the break still held about 30 seconds. Lidl-Trek then committed fully to setting up Simmons.
During Simmons’ move, Remco Evenepoel tried to respond but found his path blocked by Toms Skujiņš. Evenepoel gestured that he had been cut off, though the incident did not appear intentional.
McNulty then bridged across to Simmons and immediately counterattacked. He opened a gap and reached Yates, who had slipped back as Healy lifted the pace again.
Seixas took responsibility for closing McNulty down. That effort helped create a select front group of seven.
The group included Seixas, Del Toro, McNulty, Tom Pidcock of Pinarello Q36.5, and Yates. Evenepoel remained the notable absentee after his earlier disruption.
Evenepoel eventually returned to the leaders after a long chase. However, the effort left him little recovery time before the final ascent of the main climb.
Healy still rode alone ahead and held a meaningful advantage. His reputation as a solo threat forced the favorites to act before the finish.
Seixas made the key acceleration halfway up the last climb. Del Toro reacted immediately and proved the only rider able to follow.
The Frenchman first opened a small gap. Del Toro then paced his way back with measured control and joined him before the summit.
The pair worked together to hold off the chasing favorites. With 4km remaining, Seixas tested Del Toro again on a ramp.
Del Toro stayed composed and continued sharing the work. The race then came down to the dragging final meters.
Del Toro left no doubt in the sprint. His win also delivered a clear warning to the riders targeting the same roads at the World Championships.
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