Donegal's Jamie Meehan dug very deep, collapsing in a heap on the finish line, after a fantastic ride in France (Photo: CAMEMB’R)
Jamie Meehan (Cofidis) put in a huge effort up the steep 4km final climb at Classic Grand Besançon Doubs (1.1) in the south of France yesterday to place 5th. The Donegal rider collapsed in a heap after the finish line, telling stickybottle he was happy with how it had gone.
"It was hard to know after doing Basque last week how the shape would be today; whether I'd be quite tired or I'd be okay. But thankfully the legs were good," he said, adding he could still feel the fatigue of Itzulia Basque Country (2.UWT) when he went deep.
"It was one of those days where I was just moving about the bunch. The first time on the climb, I knew I was pressing a bit. But I was really comfortable. And over the top, there was a good few guys missing, so I realised then I was on a good day.
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"On the run into the last climb, there was a bit of a downhill and a really sharp right turn. And I came through there in a middling position, maybe 30th or 40th.
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"That wasn't great but I managed to move up the side and get myself towards the front on the bottom of the climb. And from there I realised, when I was able to move up so early on the climb, I was in for a good day."
As the climb to the finish line progressed - some 4km averaging nine per cent - Meehan and three others pulled clear of the large select group. The Irish rider was with Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and the Decathlon CMA CGM duo Léo Bisiaux and Matthew Riccitello.
Bisiaux and Riccitello took turns to attack on the final climb, before Jegat pulled clear solo to win from the two team mates. Byron Munton (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) then caught and passed Meehan to take 4th, with the Irishman 5th.
"Whenever the guys from Decathlon kept attacking, I could hold the steady pace. But with the attacks, I was going a bit too much into the red.
"And maybe after Basque, there was just a bit of fatigue in the legs. And it makes the harder efforts much more difficult. But when I was steady, I was good. I kinda just trucked away the best I could.
“Being quite close to the podium, I guess was a bit annoying. Maybe on a different day it would have been possible. But I've got to be happy with fifth. It was a good result so I can be happy."
