Conor Dunne attacks De Panne, Sam Bennett poised for sprint battles
The breakaway containing Conor Dunne on the opening stage of Driedaagse De Panne in Belgium.
By Brian Canty
Conor Dunne produced a strong display for Aqua Blue Sport on the opening stage of Driedaagse De Panne, a three-day, four-stage race in Belgium.
Dunne was in the break that went away after around 70 kilometres of racing.
Together with Jerome Baugnies (Wanty Groupe Gobert), Kenny de Ketele (Sport Vlaanderen Baloise), Aviv Yeckezkel (Israel Cycling Academy), Bruce Feillu (Fortuneo Vital Concept) and Kristoffer Skjerping (Team Joker Icopal) they built a maximum advantage of just a couple of minutes on the peloton.
It was a savagely hard first couple of hours with nothing getting away but when the elastic snapped, Dunne was one of those forcing things up front.
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In fact, in the first hour alone the peloton completed a whopping 51.6 kilometres. In the second hour it was a more manageable 46 kilometres.
Eventually, something gave way and the group went clear. But unlike other races in recent weeks, they didn’t stay clear for long.
The brutal parcours featured 11 climbs and two ascents of the De Muur of Geraardsbergen - as well as relentless chasing - saw Conor Dunne's group recaptured.
Sam Bennett digs in on the Muur. He will look for a stage win opportunity as early as today.
When Dunne was absorbed around the 130-kilometre mark, the peloton had been very much trimmed down even though there was still over 70 kilometres left to race.
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Eventual winner Philippe Gilbert (Quick Step Floors) made his move on the first time up the Muur.
And when he attacked alone on the second ascent, he moved clear with a select bunch of just over a dozen riders with no Aqua Blue Sport man present.
They had a contingent of five behind in a chase group trying to limit the damage in the hope British national champion Adam Blythe could get back in to contend.
With less than 40 kilometres to go, Blythe’s group was around 45 seconds from the Gilbert group. And 20 kilometres later they were less than half a minute in arrears.
Alas, the final climb before the finish in Zottegem proved too much for the chase.
Gilbert found another gear and powered clear. He rode the last 15 kilometres alone to hold off a flying Luke Durbridge (Orica-SCOTT).
Italy’s Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) took the three-rider sprint for third.
Best for Aqua Blue Sport on the day was Blythe at 3:24, with five of their riders in the main peloton over nine minutes back, Matt Brammeier among them.
Dunne was over 17 minutes back after yet another great ride.
The other Irishman in the race was Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) and he finished 30th at 3:35. He will aim to be in the shake-up for the sprint that should decide today's stage.
It is traditionally one for the sprinters, but the strong winds that usually blow will result in echelons.
Bennett, however, has proven very adept at handling such conditions.
There are five sharp climbs around the 100-kilometre mark and that will further slim down the bunch, though at 192 kilometres the stage offers a chance for a regrouping.
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