A group of Irish juniors has decamped to Belgium where they have been very successful already. Above, Breandan Flannagan wins from Adam Ward. Cathir Doyle was 8th in the same race and Cian May was also off the front (All photos with thanks to Martine Verfaillie)
Breandan Flannagan, Adam Ward win again in Belgium
Irish junior riders Breandan Flannagan and Adam Ward have scored another 1-2 result riding in Belgium.
The duo once again broke clear of an international field, this time in Veldegem, to win.
And while Ward took the honours last week, when they first filled the top two placings in a Belgian race, this time it was Flannagan.
Ward has taken a string of wins at home this year, including the Irish junior title. And Flannagan has also repeatedly impressed.
The grapevine says he has a remarkably big engine, and that showed when he finished 14th in the junior road race at the European Championships.
Advertisement
In Veldegem, West Flanders, they faced a technical and exposed circuit with 17 laps to race.
Also racing in Belgium are fellow Irish juniors Cathir Doyle, Cian May (Lucan CRC) and Conor Gallagher (NRPT-Chill Insurance).
Related News
Top down: Cian May, Cathir Doyle, Flannagan leads Maes and Ward in the breakaway.
Doyle, Ward and Flannagan all compete for Irish team Powerhouse Sport at home.
However, in Belgium Doyle and May are riding for VZW Molenspurters Meulenbeke, with the aid of Dany Blondeel at the Belgian Project.
Flannagan was active off the front from the gun on the way to eventual victory in Veldegem; getting clear in a 10-man group.
Doyle, who was aggressive throughout, was also in the escape. And Ward would later bridge across on his own as the breakaway extended its advantage over the peloton.
With four laps remaining Ward attacked off the front of the breakaway and pulled away with Belgian rider Laurens Maes.
However, this time Flannagan attacked from behind the two leaders, picking off a number of chasers and getting across to the front two.
And in the closing kilometres the two Irish riders worked over their Belgian rival. Ward let Flannagan’s wheel go and then sat on the Belgian as he tried to close the gap.
And when the local rider lost that battle, Ward jumped him and got across to his team mate. The duo then rode hard for the finish line where they celebrated side by side.
Doyle would finish in 8th place; a very solid result in his first race. And May would make it out of the bunch and into a chasing group on the day.
Topics
