Benoit Cosnefrois' frustration was evident. After a solo attack on the final lap of Sunday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Mont-Réal, AG2R La Mondiale's Cosnefrois was bridged at the top of Boulevard Mont-Royal by French rider Julien Alaphilippe (Desseuninck-Quick Step) with 3km to go When he did, he thought he had found the perfect ally.

Initially, their partnership was as smooth as the tumultuous conditions would allow, but by the time the 180-degree turn came with 500 meters to go, it was clear that Alaphilippe was content to let his younger compatriot lead the uphill sprint. Kosnefroi's pleas for help against the gradient and headwind were rebuffed by Alaphilippe, who responded by tapping his handlebars in frustration.

With the chase group led by Jack Haig closing in, Alaphilippe finally broke away, but by the time he and Kosnefroi made a serious move, the opportunity had already slipped through his fingers. Greg Van Avermaat (CCC) won the race, with Alaphilippe finishing 13th and Kosnefrois 17th.

Just before the finish, as Van Avermaat was heading for the podium, Alaphilippe asked Kosnoufrois for an explanation, if not an apology, and the two shook hands.

"I wanted Julien to make more turns, but he was Alaphilippe. That's what he told me at the finish. It's a shame. It would have been nice to have a French one-two with Julien in Montreal. It would have been great to be on the podium with him. I've known Julien for a long time.

Cosnefrois, who finished 10th in Friday's Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, was the only rider to make the podium after an unsuccessful attack by teammate Nance Peters and EF Education First's Michael Woods, who was followed by Cote She had a lull at the top of the de Camillien Houde.

The course circled Mont-Royal Park, the green heart of Montreal, before tackling the Côte de Polytechnique. Alaphilippe crossed just as his buffer began to diminish, and after Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) tried to pull them apart, the two Frenchmen ran down the finish straight in the lead.

"I wanted Julien to get through. He is stronger than me and I was hoping he would make the long turn," said Kosnefroi. He was going for the win and we both could have stayed away. Unfortunately, he flattened out and couldn't make any more turns. But in the end we ended up 25th or 30th or even 17th.

Cosnefrois, the under-23 world champion in Bergen two years ago, is enjoying his second season in the professional peloton with wins in Paris-Cambert, Première Morbihan, and Polynormand, a stage win and overall victory in the Tour du Limousin, and He is enjoying a good second season in the peloton.

"It's a shame I didn't make it to the finish. I haven't won on the World Tour yet. I'm happy with the way I rode today, but when I crossed the finish line all I felt was frustration that I couldn't get away."

"I wanted to be in the fight for the finish today. I like racing on this kind of circuit."

Kosnefroe and Alaphilippe may find themselves facing the same direction in circuit races this month. French coach Thomas Voeckler has already named seven of his eight-man team for the World Championships road race in Yorkshire on September 29, and at this rate, Kosnefroi will certainly be competing for the last seat on the plane.