Ireland's Mark Downey on the front of the breakaway with the three Danes just behind. Daire Feeley is also in the move.
Mark Downey on Irish team spirit at Tour l'Avenir
Mark Downey has expressed his disappointment at having a fantastic chance at a Tour de l’Avenir stage win and just coming up short.
Downey and Daire Feeley, both of Team Ireland, made the nine-man winning breakaway on yesterday’s 183km stage six.
It was a fantastic team ride by the Irish. Michael O’Loughlin made the first main breakaway but it was caught after over an hour up the road.
And when the counter attacking began, Downey got clear in what would prove to be the winning escape.
Feeley got across 20km later, with he and Downey riding for each other. In the finale, Feeley buried himself up front.
Advertisement
With the main field breathing down the breakaway’s neck, Feeley played a role in keeping the pace high enough to deter attacks so Downey could sprint for the win.
And while Feeley would be among four of the escape to be caught on the incline to the finish, he had done his job and done it very well.
Downey put in a great kick and for a few moments he thought he had it won. But one of the Italians - Alessandro Covi - came passed him to claim it on the line.
“It was hard from the off and the green jerseys were present to the fore,” Downey told stickybottle.
“Michael (O’Loughlin) made the break after 30km and I thought that was the day done."
Downey takes 2nd yesterday. O'Loughlin up the road on stage 5 when he took 4th; he was also clear for a long time yesterday. Feeley made the cut with Downey on yesterday's race.
Downey continued: “But the French team weren't happy, so they were the main team chasing. Then on a cat 3 it all came back together.
Related News
“Just over the top of that climb it was very hard, the bunch was lined out. I followed the right move and made a split of six.
“And then Daire came across 20km later. I was happy to see him because I wasn’t sure what to do with three Danes in the break.
“From there everyone committed except for the French guy,” Downey said of Simon Guglielmi, a team mate of race leader Alan Riou.
“And the Italian skipped a bit of work, which could have made the difference in the end.
“The last 20km was so hard; everyone was on their hands and knees. We were holding the bunch at 1:20.
“Then with 5km to go we had 35 seconds. But I knew we would make it with the Danes having three in the break; they would make sure it stuck.
“Daire rode really hard for from 1km to 500m to keep the speed high in the group; to stop the long-range attacks.
“And that set me up perfectly. I have to thank him a lot; he rode out of his skin. He was super strong all the way to the line.
“Then the Danes took us to 250m to go and I hit it hard and gapped everyone.
“To be honest with 50 metre to go I thought I had it. Then I saw the Italian under my arm. He levelled with me in the last 15 metres and my legs gave in first.”
While bitterly disappointed immediately after the finish, Mark Downey said when he had time to reflect he might take some solace in knowing he gave his all.
“I gave everything I could and did everything I could to win but it just wasn't enough,” he said.
The last month, he added, had been a challenge because he had fallen ill at the European Championships in Glasgow.
While able to race, the illness had undermined his condition and he said he raced below his best on the track.
“But I was so motivated to come here and get a win,” he explained. “I got my shot and to come within half a wheel of that is hard to take.”
Downey said the focus of his race would now change. The Tour de l’Avenir climbing stages would see him support Eddie Dunbar and the other better climbers in the team.
“It's been a great six days so far; everyone getting stuck in,” he said of the six-man Irish team.
“And it's great to see in the best U23 race in the world we can compete with these guys. And we still have four days to go.”
Topics
