PJ Doogan was the only man on the podium at the end of the Cycling Ireland Talent Team's last race during their stint of racing on the Continent because a nasty crash in the gallop saw the second and third-placed riders require medical treatment.
By Brian Canty
The Cycling Ireland Talent Team ended its stint in Belgium and the Netherlands on a high note when PJ Doogan galloped in for a fine win at the 40km Ronde van De Lier near Rotterdam.
The Errigal CC rider attacked after five laps of the 1.2km circuit with Dutch rider Manuel Michielsen and together they held a lead of around 15 seconds.
A group of three got across to them including Irish rider Liam Curley and that new selection worked well to pull the gap out to a minute.
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Behind, Mark Smith showed his attacking instincts; jumping the main field and getting sufficient distance on the bunch to hang out in front alone.
Up ahead Doogan jumped early into the final corner and held off the fast-finishing Sven Vijerberg and Liam Curley.
But when Vijerberg banged his bars in disgust at losing, a huge crash resulted.
Curley took a ferocious bang off the road and both required treatment in the medical tent afterwards.
The Dutch rider was later disqualified and Doogan was left looking a bit lonely on the podium.
Mullen takes first WorldTour win and defends yellow
A team time-trial stage win of the Czech Tour will go down as Ryan Mullen's first ever win as a Cannondale-Drapac rider, an historic moment in his career and his development.
Ryan Mullen has had a brilliant start to the Czech Cycling Tour (2.1) where he is showing some great form.
He and his Cannondale Drapac team blitzed the opening team time-trial stage on Thursday and yesterday they retained the race lead through Wouter Wippert, who finished second in the bunch sprint.
On GC, the men in green occupy the top five spots but that is all expected to change today with a much harder course awaiting the riders.
There were four categorised climbs yesterday afternoon and Mullen stayed with the main group all day.
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He came to the line in the bunch of around 130 riders after doing some huge pulls on the front during the course of the 177-kilometre stage.
On Thursday he did more than his fair share of work in the team time-trial.
He relinquished 1'20" after losing contact with his team mates towards the finish; trying to spare some of his powder for the days ahead after a very strong ride.
Today sees the riders tackle a 187-kilometre stage with seven categorised climbs - three in the last 40 kilometres - so Mullen will definitely need to be firing on all cylinders if the team is to hold the lead for another day.
Bennett and Brammeier in the mix in Norway
Matt Brammeier is coming into good form and after doing a massive amount of work on Thursday's opening stage of the Arctic Tour of Norway he was selected to wear the viking jersey yesterday. It recognises selfless work of one rider and is voted by the public.
Despite deciding to skip the Vuelta A Espana, Matt Brammeier is in superb shape at the moment and really riding well at the Arctic Race of Norway.
On Thursday's opener he might have lost over 10 minutes but only after burying himself for the team in a bid to set up a bunch sprint.
If anyone didn't notice him in the distinct Dimension Data kit on yesterday's second stage it was only because he was wearing the 'viking jersey'.
It's worn by the rider who the public deemed to have done the most work for the previous day.
A Viking jersey! Now that would make my career complete ? Get voting ✌️ https://t.co/1JZqtlADpw
— Matt Brammeier (@Mattbrammeier85) August 11, 2016
The four-time Irish national champion didn't contest yesterday's sprint which was won by Team Sky fast-man Danny Van Poppel from John Degenkolb (Team Giant Alpecin).
Ireland's Sam Bennett was 81st on the stage but it is his first proper road race since the Tour de France and after a period of rest he is only getting back to top condition.
The race's queen stage takes place today before the event concludes tomorrow, Sunday.
Van Poppel leads by two seconds overall from Degenkolb with former winner Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) next at four seconds.
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