That's How He Rolls: Matthew Teggart takes a great stage win from the large breakaway that pulled clear on the pointy end of stage 3 of the Junior Tour between Ennis and Ennistymon (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Matthew Teggart was this evening savouring the biggest win of his career after a thrilling late burst of speed saw him claim stage 3 of the Junior Tour of Ireland in Ennistymon today.
The Standard Life Nicolas Roche Performance Team man was second on yesterday's opening road stage, taking the bunch sprint behind a flying solo Eddie Dunbar of the national team.
But Banbridge youngster Teggart made up for it today.
"We drove out to have a look at the finish yesterday morning and I saw it would suit me," he said of the finish to stage 2.
Advertisement
"I knew there wouldn’t be a big bunch coming to the line and I felt I had a good chance of a stage win so it was disappointing that Eddie was up the road. Having said that, I was happy to get second and to win today made it all the better.”
Today's 122 kilometre leg took the riders over four climbs, including the brutal Corkscrew Hill which split up the race. It was there that Teggart knew he could win today because he felt good.
The Irish team has been working very hard to control the race, but Teggart says with plenty of hard miles to come he and his team mates will not make it easy for team. Daire Feeley pushes the pace on the road today, followed by Stephen Shanahan and yellow jersey Eddie Dunbar (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
"Two guys went up the road early but I don’t think anyone thought they were any real threat; we knew once we hit the hills they’d be brought back.
“Corkscrew Hill wasn’t too bad; I think everyone was afraid of it and no one rode hard up it. The Irish team just controlled it and kept it steady so I found it quite easy.
"Eddie (Dunbar) attacked over the top and I went with him with Craig McAuley and Michael (O’Loughlin) and a few others came across. We weren’t really working and no one was riding through though. But I felt good.
"Then over the last two climbs there was no flat at all and that’s where the damage was done. Eddie was off the front and I rode across with Craig. But no one was riding until a few more joined us from behind and then we started working and we stayed away."
Coming to the line was all about position and Teggart was glad to have the help of team mate Aaron Swan.
Related News
"It was pretty hectic, there were a few attacks but I sat in and kept the powder dry; I could see the crowds and the lorry from a bit out.
“Aaron asked me how I was and I told him I was good so he attacked and led it out but when he was brought back there was a stall so I went and held them all off.
"It’s brilliant to win, it feels good to beat the American national champion (Jonathen Brown) and Eddie and a few more big names in a big international race. I know I can compete at the highest level now.
As well as taking second and first on the two road stages, and perhaps the most promising sign of all, having won the two bunch sprints he has been in so far, Teggart now leads the points classification and is third in the race for the polka dot jersey.
"I came in here with a bit of ambition for the climber’s jersey, I was third last year,” he said.
“The team is delighted, we’re doing better than we expected but I can’t see Eddie losing unless he has a serious mechanical or crash.
“But we’ll try our hardest to not make it easy for him. There’s still a few hundred kilometres to go and we’ll see what happens."
Topics
