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Jake Gray isn't one who rides around in the bunch all day but yesterday that was about all he could do. He was unlucky to miss the decisive move that contested the win in the junior men's road race at the World Championships (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Jake Gray came into the junior men’s road race yesterday as the Irish team’s protected rider and given a bunch sprint was the most likely outcome he felt he could fight for a placing.
His plan for the afternoon was to stay sheltered and let the bigger nations battle it out at the front of the race.
But when a large group went clear and the gap swelled to over a minute he knew his chance of a top result was gone.
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With his two teammates not in the peloton after crashing earlier on he was isolated for the latter half of the race, though did well to keep himself in the front of the bunch.
“I felt really strong during the race and was right up there for the last six laps,” he said, hoping the break would come back so he could get a shot at a sprint.
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Alas, many of the big teams were up the road and they were keen to press on, which meant a frustrating afternoon for the national road race champion – and a nervy one too with so many crashes.
“It was sketchy as f*ck but I just said, ‘if I crash, I crash’. I was pretty nervous the first three laps and then I just went and rode the top 30 the whole day and it was much easier up there.
“It was unfortunate not to be in break but the plan was for me to leave everything for the sprint.”
With the race gone up the road Gray steadied himself and still fought for what was available, though a top 20 was the best he could hope for.
“I was right up there about 10th wheel going for the bunch sprint and was on the Belgian rider Gerben Thijssen’s wheel but he touched a wheel in front and went down.
“I'd no option but to go straight over the top of him and this was at 400m to go.
“I really believe I was on for a top 10 in the bunch sprint, I was definitely gonna be up there.”
It has been a brilliant couple of years for Gray who now enters the espoir ranks.
He will ride in France next year for VC Toucy, one of the most well-regarded amateur teams who have produced some of the finest French talents in recent years.
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