The Irish Powerhouse Sport juniors have been in flying form on the home scene all season. And now Breandan Flannagan and Adam Ward have let rip in Belgium.
Adam Ward, Breandan Flannagan win in Belgium
Adam Ward and Breandan Flannagan have taken a 1-2 in Belgium as they get a racing stint there underway.
The two Powerhouse Sport juniors were out front at the end of the 96.6km kermesse in Opwijk in northern Belgium.
They arrived at the finish line side by side with their arms aloft; a familiar sight in recent months on the home scene.
Ward, wearing his national champion’s jersey, was declared winner ahead of Flannagan.
Both riders were part of the Irish team at the recent European Road Championships. Flannagan was best of the Irish in the junior road race in the Czech Republic, claiming 14th place.
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Yesterday they faced 14 laps of a 6.5km course in Belgium; an initial breakaway of six riding clear early.
Nice 1-2 by Irish Powerhouse Sport juniors in Belgium - Adam Ward and Breandan Flannagan doing the business. Story coming up. pic.twitter.com/Beef5NBdN8
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) July 20, 2018
Ward waited until the group had established a gap and then jumped across to it. And Flannagan would get across soon after in a group of give.
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The breakaway was soon trimmed to eight, including the two Irish riders, and it worked very well to establish a decent gap.
However, with four laps remaining a chase group of 11 caught them. That made for a mini bunch now off the front, with the cooperation dropping.
On the final lap the Irish decided to take flight; Flannagan jumping on a drag towards the end of the circuit.
Ward would jump after him and the pair benefitted from a stall behind. Their gap shot out to almost 30 seconds, leaving them plenty of time to celebrate.
Some 25 seconds after they crossed the finish line, Malaysian rider Ammar Muhammadnurfitri sprinted in for 3rd.
The top 15 men on the day were Irish, Malaysian, British, Dutch and of course Belgian.
Powerhouse Sport 2018 double takes
Cathir Doyle and Adam Ward come in for a Powerhouse Sport 1st and 2nd at the East Tyrone GP in April (Photo: David McVeigh – The Belgian Project)
Cathir Doyle wins from team mate Breandan Flannagan in the John Haldane Memorial in March (Photo: Toby Watson)
Lindsay Watson wins from Powerhouse Sport team mate Adam Ward in the JG Memorial last month (All photos by Sharon McFarland)
Adam Ward, Breandan Flannagan 1st and 2nd at the recent Strabane-Lifford GP.
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