Same but different. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) avenged his Tour de France disappointment with victory in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec.

Twelve months ago, despite his late-season brilliance, Matthews was already considered surplus to requirements for the Australian team for the world championships in Innsbruck. This victory was a convincing confirmation that he is one of the elite contenders for the World Championships in Yorkshire in two weeks' time.

"I've been told many times that it suits me, but I don't even know what that means anymore," Matthews smiled when asked if he knew the Yorkshire circuit.

Matthews' exceptional versatility makes him a favorite to win on all kinds of courses, but there are problems that come with that dexterity. His ability as a climber and a ruler meant that he was an automatic choice for the Sunweb team supporting Tom Dumoulin in the Tour, but when the Dutchman left with an injury, Matthews led the team's battle for stage wins.

"I was focused on the climbs and the team time trial to help Tom," Matthews said. 'Obviously I was in good shape, but I was in no shape to sprint against some of the best sprinters in the world. When a rider like Julien Alaphilippe runs like that, there's nothing you can do."

Unlike 2018, when he missed the opening week of the Tour due to illness, Matthews continued to fight all the way to Paris, racing only twice since arriving on the Champs-Elysées, at the RideLondon Classic and the Bretagne Classic. Matthews' recent training schedule seemed to be a direct response to his disappointment at the Tour. However, upon arriving in Quebec, Matthews confessed that he was unsure of his form.

"I think it's a good thing. I need to modify my positioning a little bit for the final, though."

"It's pretty hard to gauge how well you're doing when you're training full tilt. You're working yourself hard every day, you're tired, and there's no sign of getting better. Eventually, I need to rest up and start racing. I am a little surprised at myself today.

As is often the case in Canadian World Tour races, the final lap in Quebec served as a roll call for those likely to wear the rainbow band in two weeks. Julien Alaphilippe's late attack was tracked by both Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet.

"I made a big mistake on the last climb down, I was in about 40th position, but when you are too far back it really messes you up. I honestly thought the race was over. But I tried to get back to the front on the climb," Matthews said. When this group of five or six guys went, they were all favourites to win, and I regretted not being in a position to go with them."

A hesitant break under Framlouge caused the reduced peloton to be swallowed up by the escape group 400 meters before the line. Sagan and Van Avermaert were able to gallop up enough to take second and third, but neither could withstand Matthews' acceleration.

"I've been playing a lot of PlayStation lately, and that helped me see the gaps in the pack and time my sprint," Matthews joked.

In the short term, Matthews' success will be a repeat of his double win at the Quebec and Montreal GPs a year ago. He also indicated that he is ready for a day race in Yorkshire on September 29.

"Because of the weather and the distance, it will probably be a war of attrition with a more select group of athletes than here in Canada," Matthews said of the World Championships. It's 280 kilometers, so it's going to be a very long day. If it's a group of 50 or 60 guys like today, I'll be very surprised."