Conor Dunne said his ride in the escape in France yesterday suggests he has come out of the winter break stronger than last year (Photo: Elsa Bénard. Homepage photo: Andréa Quémener)
By Brian Canty
An Post Chainreaction man Conor Dunne had a superb start to his 2015 season when he managed to infiltrate the break in the season-opening GP La Marseille in southern France yesterday.
He said he felt good up the road and thought the move had a chance of staying away to contest the finish when they were shown a time gap of nine minutes.
However, he was not too despondent when the move was brought back.
“It was good to get out there in the break,” the former Irish u23 international of the 140-kilometre, UCI 1.1 ranked event.
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“It was a very fast start; straight up a five kilometre climb so everyone was attacking, trying to get in the break.
“You try to follow what you can. It’s pot-luck sometimes but I went with a move and that was it, we were away.”
Wearing the yellow jersey in the An Post Rás having won the opening stage in 2013; Dunne is hoping for a big season this year.
Many of the bigger teams missed the break.
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But as soon as Dunne was gone and joined by Steven Tronet (Auber 93), Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Thomas Vaubourzeix (Veranclassic-Ekoi) and Julien Duval (Armée de Terre), there was no looking back.
“Everyone was riding through, there was only five of us and we were all pretty equal but we knew we were in for the long haul.
“There was no room for anyone to miss turns, we were just tapping through for the rest of the race trying to stay away.
“We had a good gap, we had nine minutes at one point and got over all the climbs.
Dunne has be a constant fixture in the green of Ireland on the U23 national team for road races and time trials.
"But we were going into a massive headwind then coming towards the finish and the bunch caught us.
“I hung in there and tried to see if I could get up there in the sprint, things were going okay but I didn’t have the legs for a sprint finish.
“It was a bit impossible because it was a big chaotic sprint, there were crashes everywhere.
“I was happy enough. I just need to keep pushing on now.
“Hopefully today showed I’ve come on stronger since this time last year. I just need to stay patient and see if I can get results, I’ve a long way to go yet.”
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