Conn McDunphy on the attack in the 13-stage pro race. He's been up the road, animating the action, for the past two stages.
Conn McDunphy attacks Tour of Qinghai Lake
Ireland's Conn McDunphy has grabbed his chance on the international pro scene with both hands; animating the past two stages of Tour of Qinghai Lake (2.HC).
The Holdsworth Pro Racing rider went up the road in two breakaways that were ultimately caught. However, the professional stage race in China is the biggest he has ever ridden.
And he has shone in the desert crosswinds and heat; racing at a much higher level than he is used to.
Aaron Kearney, the 19-year-old who rides with Viner-Caremark-Pactimo in Ireland, is also riding in China.
He got the call-up from Holdsworth Pro Racing, and has ridden an exceptional race so far. He is surviving comfortably despite competing against the pros for the first time.
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We’ll catch up properly with both Kearney and McDunphy when the race is completed.
In the meantime, yesterday’s stage 10 - which followed the only rest day on the 13-stage race - took the riders some 124km from Minqin to Tengger Desert.
McDunphy made his move immediately after the last climb of the race and with just over 50km remaining.
Irishman @ConnMcD97 animated @TDQL_Official on a second consecutive stage, this time with Ukrainian Bohdan Musiienko (LVIV Cycling). The 21yo @Holdsworthbikes rider talks to @Eurosport_UK after coming oh so close to a stage win yet again | via @Eurosport #homeofcycling #TDQL2018 pic.twitter.com/DG6UJnbCxp
— Aaron S. Lee (@aaronshanelee) August 1, 2018
As Conn McDunphy attacked on one side of the road, Bohden Musienko (Lviv Cycling) had the same idea and went on the other side.
The two would then combine very well, though they faced a battle in the crosswinds.
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To their credit, they stayed away for more than 40km. They were only mopped up by the peloton some 7km from the finish.
That paved the way for a bunch sprint, won by Serbian Dušan Rajović (Adria Mobil).
However, having also been on the attack in a breakaway for most of Monday’s stage 9, Ireland’s McDunphy said he was determined to have a go.
He also secured a handsome chunk of TV time, including a post stage interview with Eurosport.
The TV time was welcome acknowledgment for a man who was racing for his amateur club team, Lucan CRC, just 12 months ago.
“We don’t get that in Ireland, so I thought I might as well give it a go because the wind can change,” he said of the unforgiving wind and sunshine.
“If you have a tailwind it’s hard from them to catch you. And you never know on a day like today.
“It was kind of obvious that nothing was going to go. And it was the same story every day.
“It takes 40k and someone just rolls off the front. They don’t let many go up the road; two or three normally. I think the biggest break here has been four."
There are three circuit races remaining and no climbs. It means 22-year-old Colombian Hernan Aguirre (Manzana Postobón) looks safe in yellow.
He has over a minute on a team mate in 2nd place and also holds the climbers’ jersey.
But having already shown he is in good great condition mentally and physically as the race nears a close, McDunphy is not ruling out going on the offensive again.
“You’d never know, we’ll give it a try,” he said, before adding team sprinter Seid Lizde may be a good bet.
“Seid is a very good sprinter. So we’ll probably go all in for him those last three days. But if there is an opportunity I’ll definitely take it and go from there.”
McDunphy and Kearney both finished in the peloton yesterday, with the finish of the race now in sight for both.
Former national road race champion and one-time pro rider Morgan Fox is manager of their team on the race. Unfortunately, Irish-based Italian Matteo Cigala was forced out in the early stages.
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