Ireland's Ryan suffers heavy crash on debut with EvoPro in Belgium | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Fintan Ryan - in purple kit on the ground - having crashed yesterday on his debut with EvoPro Racing at Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré (1.1) in Belgium*

Ireland's Fintan Ryan endured a frustrating debut at Continental level on the roads of Belgium with EvoPro Racing due to a crash yesterday.

The 24-year-old Irish track international and former national criterium champion was all set to contribute to his team's lead-out as the finale of Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré (1.1) was ramping up when he came down in a fall.

A number of riders, moving up the outside of the peloton with just over 20km to go, came down in the spill. And while Ryan thankfully suffered no broken bones his race was over.

Ireland's Fintan Ryan (24) was unlucky to see his ride at Jean-Pierre Monseré ended by a crash yesterday - he's the rider in black and purple kit. But thankfully he suffered no broken bones. pic.twitter.com/6GLbYYY3aP

— StickyBottle.com 💚 🚲 (@sticky_bottle) March 8, 2021

Fintan Ryan is the rider on the deck in black and purple kit - the new look for EvoPro Racing. Apologies for the poor quality of the footage, it was the only clip we could find

He was one of three fallers on the day in the EvoPro line-up, making for a difficult opening day of the season for the Irish Continental team. Its best finish was new Belgian signing Michael Van Staeyen in 19th place.

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The 202km race came down to a mass bunch sprint won by Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) from Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Timothy Dupont (Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles).

“Everything was going to plan to set up Michael Van Staeyen in the sprint but unfortunately three of us came down so that diminished our chances of a top result,” Ryan told stickybottle.

*EvoPro Racing at the start of the race yesterday. The only Irishman in the team, Fintan Ryan, is in the centre (Photo with thanks to Martine Verfaillie)*

“Luckily I came down on top of someone so I didn’t hit the deck too hard. I got a few bikes ploughing into the back of me but it was nothing too serious.”

Despite his encounter with the
tarmac bringing his race very abruptly to an end, and denying him his first
experience of a big bunch sprint against WorldTour teams, Ryan said it was good
to get on the road with EvoPro.

“There’s a nice bond with the staff and there was a good atmosphere with the other riders all week before the race; a great bunch of hard working guys,” he said.

“The race was fast, but nothing I didn’t expect. It wasn’t too hard so it was a nice one to start off with. The bunch was super nervous, which I guess is normal for an early season race, especially after so many race cancellations over the last 12 months.

“I’m happy with the form, though, and I felt like I was learning a lot throughout the race. With more experience I feel I can compete at this level."