Sam Bennett rolls off for the start of the stage four time-trial at Bayern Rundfahrt wearing the race leader's yellow jersey back. After winning two of the opening three stages, the Irishman was leader of the general classification in a 2.HC race for the first time in his career.
By Brian Canty
As the curtain comes down on another fabulous year for Irish riders abroad, we thought it timely to take a look back at some of the best international results of the season.
It’s by no means an exhaustive list and this is by no means a ranking, but rather 11 stunning performances on the world stage by Irish riders on the road and the track.
Nicolas Roche wins big at the Vuelta A Espana
Nicolas Roche is one of the finest ambassadors for Irish sport we can think of from this or any generation.
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The way he prepares himself for every race is an example to people of all sports but in a sport where the best guy often doesn’t win it was heartening to see the Irishman buck that trend here.
Entering the three-week Vuelta A Espana as a domestique for Chris Froome, Roche knew his chances of glory would be few and far between.
But when Froome lost time and fell out of GC contention on stage 11, Roche took full advantage on stage 18 from Roa to Riaza.
It was all the more brilliant from him considering the crashes he had on stages 9 and 10.
Sam Bennett wins two stages of Bayern Rundfahrt and wears yellow
Sprinters leading stage races are rare in cycling but when Bennett barrelled in for his second win in three days at Bayern Rundhahrt he was top of the General Classification.
That he beat Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale-Garmin) and John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) made the victories all the more significant.
He would lose the jersey the following day because the 26-kilometre time-trial was never going to suit him but two stage wins on front of the team’s sponsors was about as good as it got for Bennett this year.
Ryan Mullen takes eighth in the inaugural European Games TT
Eighth might not sound like a massive result but it was just that for the World U23 TT silver medallist.
Surrounded by WorldTour riders, Mullen’s time was around two and a half minutes off that of gold medal winner and recently crowned world champion Vasil Kiryienka – a very respectable deficit considering it was by far the longest sustained effort of Mullen’s life.
Dunbar up the road at the European Champs
He was only 18 at the time but it’s a measure of how good Dunbar is that he managed 9th in the time-trial and 26th in the road race.
In the former, the NFTO man was one of the real aggressors of the 161-kilometre affair in Estonia, constantly pushing the pace and managing to escape on a number of occasions.
He would eventually be reeled in and be in the group sprinting for the win but was never going to contend there after his efforts beforehand.
But a superb performance, nonetheless.
Conor Dunne right on point at Tour of Britain
The An Post Chainreaction men always have a knack of pulling out great results in the Tour of Britain and this year it was Conor Dunne who shone brightest for the men in green.
He made the break on the opening day and went home wearing the hot spot sprints jersey while he also stayed right in contention for the KOM jersey as the week unfolded.
That opening stage was the best ride of Dunne’s life, it would end up being the week of his life and by the end of the month he was a fully-fledged elite international riding the World Championships.
Brammeier takes career best result in ZLM Tour
The four-time Irish national road race champion was overlooked for selection for the Tour de France but instead of sulking, he proved his worth to his MTN-Qhubeka team with his biggest win.
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The fourth stage of the ZLM Tour in the Netherlands looked like a nailed-on bunch sprint but Brammeier refused to read the script and attacked the bunch with less than 15 kilometres to go.
It was to be a very painful next 20 minutes or so as he put the head down and chiselled out a maximum lead of 40 seconds before the chasers really ramped things up behind.
But they were too late and Brammeier had 25 seconds to spare.
Michael O’Loughlin wins Nations Cup TT
Michael O’Loughlin, far left, took arguably his best ever result when he won a Nations Cup time-trial in the Trophee Centre Morbihan in France back in May.
The Carrick on Suir man, who has since signed for Team Wiggins, beat a world-class field to jump up to second on general classification, where he’d stay for the remainder of the race.
Given he was sick prior to the event while he also had college exams to consider makes it all the more impressive.
Bennett downs the big guns for epic final stage Qatar win
The first win of the year is always a major monkey off the back for any sprinter and for Bennett he had that before Valentine’s Day.
He took advantage of a perfect leadout from his team to claim the final stage of the Tour of Qatar and once again there were some big name casualties.
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Bouhanni (Cofidis) were just two of those wondering where on earth the man from Carrick found that turn of speed.
Dunbar makes the break and animates World Champs
Having initially failed to secure enough points to qualify a rider for the race, Cycling Ireland managed to secure one slot – and that went to Eddie Dunbar.
The young Corkman didn’t need to be told to attack and against some of the best talent in the world he went up the road in the day’s main breakaway.
He looked awesome early on as he beckoned riders from several nations to ride through. But he would pay for his efforts in the latter portion of the race, though not before getting plenty time on TV.
He would later sign a top professional contract with Colorado-based Axeon Cycling.
Doogan excels on World and European stage
Ciara Doogan is one of the best young riders to emerge in recent years and we’re right to get excited about the young Donegal woman’s talent.
It’s not easy being the sole Irish rider in a major championships but she looked right at home in Estonia in August when she battled her way around the 74-kilometre race, finishing 25th in the same time as the winner.
A month later at the World Championships she finished 28th in the time-trial and 58th in the road race.
For good measure, she was 5th in the points race at the European track championships
Eoghan Clifford becomes a World Champion again
The Galway Bay CC man has taken to paracycling like a duck to water in recent years and just seems to be getting better and better.
In July, he annihilated the field to win the MC3 time trial at the World Championships in Notwil, Switzerland, winning the 31-kilometre test by 48 seconds.
Susie Mitchell wins five medals at World Masters' Champs
The World Track Championships in Manchester belonged to the Irish woman who won gold in the points race, silver in the Individual Pursuit and the Open team Pursuit and bronze in the 500m TT and the Scratch race.
Also worthy of mention from the campaign was Orlan Hendron's haul of three medals (silver in the points race and open team pursuit and bronze in the 2k individual pursuit, 50-54) while Terry Mackin brought the medal haul to 9 from 12 Irish riders with silver in the 750m TT.
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