Stewart leaves escape standing to take first French win; Foley also in mix

Daniel Stewart has opened his account in France in great style, as fellow Irishman Dylan Foley also makes his mark.

Just one among a number of young Irish riders who have made the trip to Europe to race for the remainder of the summer, Irish U23 international Daniel Stewart has taken his first victory on France.

The East Antrim Audi CC mad is currently riding in the colours of Hennebont team. And after some tough but character building races with the squad in recent weeks he has clearly gained in confidence and strength, resulting in his first foreign win yesterday at the Circuit Melrand.

Fellow Irish rider Dylan Foley was 4th in the same event, after hitting the ground running last weekend in taking 3rd in another road race, his first trip to the podium in France.

Foley riders for the Cork-based Aquablue squad in France but, like Stewart, he is riding for Hennebont while away.

Both riders and a third rider from their team infiltrated the breakaway of around 20 riders than formed after 30km under the pressure of some aggressive exchanges. The group was never caught and while they was plenty of attacking in the finale at the head of the race, it was a solo attack by Stewart that proved successful.

A small group set off in pursuit of him, but the Irishman was not taking no for an answer; putting his head down and driving all the way to the finish for a solo win.

"I didn't feel great during the race," Stewart told stickybottle from his base in France.

"I suffer from asthma sometimes and my chest was in bits for most of the race."

France also looks to be turning into a happy hunting ground for Dylan Foley, who is hoping for more in the weeks ahead.

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He added while pleased to make the breakaway with Foley and their team mate, his initial thoughts were of survival rather than victory.

"Because I didn't feel great I was initially setting a tempo on the climb; it was about five minutes of climbing on the 7km circuit. I felt if I rode tempo then guys would be less likely to attack; people jumping around would have been harder for me to cope with because of the way my chest was feeling.

His plan worked and as the leaders moved into the final 10 kilometres the group was still together, with what remained of the peloton well over one minute back and firmly out of contention.

"A couple of attacks went on the last lap, and I decided to attack just before we hit the climb for the last time," said Stewart.

"I looked behind me at the bottom and I could see two chasers. So I just rode hard as I could and didn't look back again until the finish and made it all the way."

Stewart said he was looking forward to the racing to come in the weeks ahead; adding he felt he had benefitted hugely from the motivational advice he had received over the past year from Phoenix CC member Edmund Boyle.

(Thanks as ever to Jean-a Vantalon for his assistance)