Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel demonstrated his fine form just two weeks out from the World Championships by winning the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec one-day classic on Friday.
The 26-year-old Belgian pipped Italy's Giulio Ciccone in a two-man sprint finish at the end of the 205km street circuit race around Quebec City.
Dane Anthon Charmig took third place with Briton Tom Pidcock, who won a second mountain bike world title two weeks ago, beating American Quinn Simmons to fourth.
Australian Michael Matthews, the record three-time winner, was sixth.
Victory added to earlier success this year in one-day classics for Evenepoel, who triumphed at Amstel Gold in April and the Clasica de San Sebastian in August, his last race.
🏆@EvenepoelRemco remporte le Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2026 !
— GPCQM (@GPCQM) September 11, 2026
Quel sprint !!!
//@EvenepoelRemco wins the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2026 !
What a sprint !!!#GPCQM pic.twitter.com/XJs8PqRIH6
The time-trial specialist also finished second to Tadej Pogacar in July's Tour de France and earned credible third-place finishes at the Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the spring.
"It's always tough to get back into racing," the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe rider said.
"I'm delighted but now I have to remain calm and take it day-by-day, I have two important weeks ahead of me."
It was a strong sign that Evenepoel is in the sort of condition that could see him win a second road race world title in Montreal in two weeks' time.
The World Championships follow a similar, but longer, route to Sunday's Montreal GP, where Evenepoel will likely be the man to beat.
He had said earlier this week that he was expecting to challenge for victory in both one-day classics.
A week later he will bid for a fourth world time-trial title and then the road race crown after another seven days.
Teenage French hope Paul Seixas, who rode aggressively in the final part of the race, finished 18th almost a minute back after growing frustrated with the lack of a coordinated chase.