The coronavirus may have stopped racing in Italy in its tracks but there was still plenty of action elsewhere in Europe to keep Irish riders busy at the weekend.
A number of Irish riders were in action in Belgium at Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré (1.1); a 196.8km race featuring WorldTour teams.
It was won in a bunch sprint, and in wet conditions in to Roeselare, by Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep).
Of the four Irish riders who took to the start line, all finished what was a very challenging circuit race.
Rory Townsend (Canyon dhb) and Darragh O’Mahony, who was
making his debut for Swift Carbon, both finished in the top 20.
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Townsend was 17th and O’Mahony 18th, on the same time as
the winner and among a 60-rider group.
Ben Walsh, who was making his debut for Irish Continental team EvoPro Racing, was 97th at 1:55, while his team mate Aaron Kearney was 110th at 5:33.
In France, Conn McDunphy rode the GP Souvenir Bruno Comini; a 187km race into Lillers won by Florian Vachon (Arkéa Samsic) from a small breakaway.
Ireland’s McDunphy, who was narrowly beaten for his first win in France last week, was 27th on Sunday.
He was part of a 45-rider group just five seconds behind the winner; another strong ride by him in this early phase of the season.
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