Dillon Corkery was left disappointed at the weekend in France when he was robbed of what appeared to be a clear victory in a blanket finish between the top three at Prix de Chavannes.
Photographs of the finish that emerged after the event showed the Irish rider had crossed the line first. However, when the result was called Corkery was not declared the winner, nor even the runner-up spot. Instead he was consigned to 3rd, despite the close-up photo (below) of the front wheels crossing the line.
Victory in the 124km race in the Ain department of south eastern France was awarded to Julien Souton (SCO Dijon-Team Materiel-velo.com), who won last year. Antony Chamerat-Dumont (VC Villefranche Beaujolais) was declared the runner-up and Corkery (CC Etupes) 3rd.
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However, now that photographs of the sprint finish have emerged - and appear to show Corkery 1st, Souton 2nd and Chamerat-Dumont in 3d - the Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC) has been asked to review the result.
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The apparent blunder cost Corkery what would have been a second win in France this year as he had already won Grand Prix d’Onjon in Aube, northern France, back in March.
When contacted by stickybottle, Corkery (23) said there was a good field in the race, many of whom were racing this weekend with an eye on the next round of the French Cup in Cherbourg next weekend.
"It was more about the principle of it all because the riders knew the result," he said, adding the podium presentation was annoying. "And then to top it off they said I was 3rd not even 2nd."
