Conor Dunne makes first echelon in Belgium on day to remember
Alexander Kristoff sprints to win from Edward Theuns and Marcel Kittel. Ireland's Conor Dunne is also in the breakaway, just about visible on the left of shot.
Conor Dunne has put in arguably the best ride of his career today at Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde (2.HC).
The Aqua Blue Sport man rode out of his skin to make the front group on a day when the crosswinds blow strong on the exposed roads of Belgium.
The field was ripped apart and when the most of the cream came to the top at the front, Conor Dunne was there.
It was never caught, though there was a regrouping behind. And at the finish Dunne took 10th place.
He was one of 20 riders over one minute clear of the next small group on the road and 2:39 ahead of the peloton.
Advertisement
Breakaway specialist Dunne managed to infiltrate an early 10-man move which built a lead of five minutes.
However, with the QuickStep team of race leader Philippe Gilbert always attentive, the breakaway was not allowed too much leeway.
Related News
Over the Monteberg and the Kemmelberg the race began to split, though Dunne remained up the road with the strongest men of the escape.
Conor Dunne is doing some good work in Belgium and he will surely get a ride in the Vuelta later in the season.
The crosswinds saw echelons form in the peloton. And from the chaos a front group of real quality powered ahead of the rest. Dunne would take his place in it when it swept him up.
And despite being clear for the whole stage he managed to stay with them and take 10th.
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) won the stage, after 4½ hours racing, from Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) and Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors).
Also in the group with Dunne included race leader and stage 1 winner Gilbert, Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie), Matthias Brändle (Trek-Segafredo) and Dunne’s former team mate at An Post Mark McNally (Wanty - Groupe Gobert).
The other two Irish riders in the race had a mixed day; Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) was not listed as a finisher and Matt Brammeier (Aqua Blue Sport) was 97th at 2:39.
Stage 2: Zottegem – Koksijde (192.9km)
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin 4:37:29
2 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
3 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Quick-Step Floors
4 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
5 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Team UAE Emirates
6 Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
7 Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie
8 Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij
9 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept
10 Conor Dunne (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport
11 Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
12 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
13 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij
14 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie
15 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Trek-Segafredo
97 Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport 0:02:39
DNF Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
Topics
