Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) has put in a fantastic performance in De Brabantse Pijl in Belgium today, finishing in 2nd place after 205km of racing and after going on the attack repeatedly in the final 50km.
Healy was up against Dorian Godon (AG2R Citroën Team) in a two-man move coming to the finish after they emerged strongest from the breakaway. And though the Irish rider had the confidence to stick Godon on the front in the closing couple of kilometres, the 26-year-old French rider was too strong for him in the finishing sprint.
While Rémi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step) was just behind the leading duo coming in to the finish, he was passed by Benoît Cosnefroy in the final few hundred metres, meaning AG2R Citroën Team took a 1-3, with Cavagna just about holding off the chasing group for 4th place.
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Irish campion Rory Townsend was also in the thick of the action today; the Bolton Equities Black Spoke rider going in the early breakaway, on sodden day in the saddle, and proving one of the strongest in that early move.
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With about 60km to go, Cavagna took flight solo from a group - containing Healy - that had clipped off the front of the peloton. The French rider caught the early breakaway men one by one until he was left with just Tord Gudmestad (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Townsend and Johan Meens (Bingoal WB) at the head of the race.
By the 45km to go marker that lead group was down to just Cavagna and Gudmestad as a four-man chase group, containing Healy, caught them. Swedish road race champion Lucas Eriksson (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) was also in that four-rider group, as was Godon and Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny).
The remains of the peloton was just 40 seconds back with 38km to go, when Healy attacked solo from the front group having looked very strong on the climbs out front. However, that effort was short-lived.
But with 20km to go, and the riders on the last lap of the circuit, Healy again pushed forward and this time only Godon and Cavagna could move with him. On the next climb, with 16km to go, Healy was again pushing the pace off the front, with Cavagna dropped but Godon able to hold Healy.
And that was the way it stayed until the finish; Healy putting Godon on the front for the final 2km but the French rider beating him in the sprint. Cosnefroy was 21 seconds back in 3rd with Cavagna 4th at 24 seconds. And just one second after Cavagna crossed the line, Axel Zingle (Cofidis) brought home the chasing group for 5th place.
More to come.
