The signs of a high speed impact with some unforgiving tarmac in the closing stages of the U23 road race at the Worlds are clear to see on Matt Teggart's flesh and kit.
Having had a team mate up the road for most of the day and another in a chasing group for a period, Matt Teggart had looked after himself throughout the U23 road race at the World Championships only to crash in the very closing stages.
The Banbridge man was the Irish team's designated sprinter should the race come down to a mass gallop as expected.
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But while that scenario did indeed play out at the end of 166km of hot and fast action, Teggart was not there to contest it.
Instead, he was picking himself up off the tarmac having fallen victim to a late crash with 1km remaining, just as the charge for the finish line was really building a head of steam.
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Michael O'Loughlin waited for him and both rode in some 2:58 down on winner Kristoffer Halvorsen (Norway); in 105th and 106th respectively.
Teggart said when O'Loughlin was clear in the day-long escape and Daire Feeley was clear in a small chase group, Eddie Dunbar had helped to look after him back in the peloton.
Teggart minded himself well all day with the help of Dunbar and felt he was on for at least a top 20 result (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Feeley was swept up by the bunch after failing to get across to the group of O'Loughlin, who in turn was only recaptured on the last lap with just 10km remaining.
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But while Teggart said he felt good coming to the finish and was on for at least a top 20 in the race he fell hard with a number of others and missed his chance.
"I was our designated sprinter for the day so I hid all day and kept my power dry for the finish," he explained.
"It was all looking so good until 1km to go; I could cry," he said.
However, he still managed to look on the bright side; pointing out the quality of O'Loughlin's and Feeley's rides.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts said the crash wiped out the team’s plan for the final.
“We had a plan for Teggart in the sprint. It was all going well for him until he got caught in a crash.
“The crash is part of cycle racing, but we had a plan and we were able to practice it.”
He believed all four riders, in what was a young team at this level, had ridden a fantastic race.
“All these riders still have a minimum of two years left at this level, they are a young team,” he said pointing to the future.
“It took a big ride for Michael to get to that front group, but he stayed in it ‘til the end. It took a big push by Germany and Norway to bring that break back.
“The rest of the team rode very well too; we raced how we were planning to race.
"In general the parcours was not ideal for the team – being flat and hot – but Michael was very strong in the breakaway.”
We'll have an interview with Teggart later.
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