Anthony Roux (left) crossed the line second on yesterday's stage 4 of the Vuelta a Burgos but was awarded the stage win. Some unusual sprinting by Daniele Ratto (right) saw him relegated after crossing the line first. Ireland's Philip Lavery is riding the UCI 2.HC event as the first of his races in a trial with French team Cofidis.
Philip Lavery has gotten off to a very solid start to his trial with Pro Continental French team Cofidis at the Vuelta a Burgos (2.HC) in Spain in recent days.
The Dubliner started his stagiaire with the team on August 1st and will ride with them until the end of the season with a view to signing a full professional contract for next year if they are satisfied with his performances.
The offer of the trial came after a string of very strong rides, including four wins, for his French club AC Bisontine this season.
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While the trial period officially started the week before last, Lavery’s ride in the Spanish stage race is his first assignment with the squad. And ahead of the final queen stage today, Sunday, he has more than held his own thus far.
On the opening stage on Wednesday, Lavery came home in 70th place, some 58 seconds down on stage winner Simon Ponzi (Astana).
The bunch completely fragmented on the uphill finish at El Castillo de Burgos after 139km. And while the young Irishman relinquished time, it was a very respectable performance in what was his first race for a Pro Continental team.
There were some 45 riders behind him scattered up to 10 minutes down the road.
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Thursday’s second stage was a 157km mainly flat trek from Ribera de Duero to Clunia, where the bunch was again scattered by a late climb. The stage was won, effectively from a bunch charge up that final ascent, by Belgian rider Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge), with Anthony Roux (FDJ) taking the overall lead.
Lavery finished 62nd, some 34 seconds down; again another very solid result for the 22-year-old from Dublin.
On Friday, stage 3 saw the riders race 175km from Villadiego to Ojo Guarena, with the race finishing on a short climb. The stage was won by Keukeleire again, with Roux maintaining his overall lead. Lavery was 108th, some 3:44 down.
However, yesterday saw his best finish in the race to date when he placed 26th in the bunch sprint that settled stage 4; some 162km from Dona Santos to Santo Domingo de Silos.
The stage was won by Roux who retained his overall lead, with Lavery now in 71st place overall some 5:16 down on the leader.
The final stage today, Sunday, is a very lumpy 170km run finishing atop the category 1 climb to Lagunas de Neila; the seventh categorised climb of the day.
It will offer a stern test for Lavery, but based on his rides so far in this race he does not look out of his depth and will surely be one step closer to a pro contract with the team for next year when the action draws to a close today.
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