The rolling gravel roads of the Gatineau Hills delivered a spectacular and fast edition of the OG Classique on Sunday, with both elite races decided in small-group sprints after an aggressive day of racing on one of Canada’s premier Gravelking UCI Gravel World Series qualifiers.
Set against the backdrop of the Outaouais region, the 124-kilometre course once again lived up to its reputation as a demanding race featuring over 1,600 metres of elevation gain, a mix of fast gravel sectors and paved connectors, and iconic sections such as the crossing of the Paugan Dam.
Men’s race: Roberge edges Woods in four-man showdown
The elite men’s race developed into a high-tempo affair, with a fast pace over the gravel sectors gradually thinning out the peloton. The constant succession of climbs and fast descents ensured there was little room for recovery, favouring a strong and versatile leading group.
By the final hour, a group of five had formed featuring Adam Roberge, former WorldTour professional Michael Woods, Guillaume Fiset, Griffin Easter (USA) and Zachary McCann (USA) who would ultimately settle for fifth place at a small gap, while the remainder of the field trailed at more than two minutes after a brutally selective race.
In the dash to the line, it was Canadian national champion Adam Roberge who timed his effort to perfection, outsprinting Woods to claim victory, with Fiset taking third and Easter finishing fourth.
Women’s race: Smith confirms dominance in another tight sprint
The elite women’s race followed a remarkably similar script, with a select lead group forming early on the undulating terrain of the Gatineau Hills. The combination of sustained climbs, technical corners and fast gravel sections proved decisive, gradually shedding contenders and leaving only the strongest riders at the front.
Heading into the final kilometres, four riders remained in contention: Haley Smith, Dylan Baker, Laetitia Bilodeau and Holly Henry. Just like in the men’s race, the group stayed compact despite several late attacks, setting up a second sprint finish of the day.
After nearly four hours of racing at an average speed of 32.48 km/h, Haley Smith showed her strength in the final metres to take a convincing victory. Baker secured second place, with Bilodeau rounding out the podium in third, while Henry narrowly missed out in fourth despite being part of the same decisive move.
