David Gaffney (Team 31 Specialized) has taken a strong general classification result at the UCI-ranked Penn Ar Bed-Bro An Hirwazh in France, after taking an aggressive approach to the race.
Over three stages, Gaffney made a move in the general standings in the TT, before making further progress when the field split on the last stage. The Irish rider made the front group racing into the final, which numbered just over 20 riders of the 150-rider field.
Gaffney told stickybottle he was content with his final placing of 9th overall, after a small number of riders got away from the front group in ones and twos late on the last stage. However, he made his own moves through the race and felt he had ridden well.
"It was hard weekend overall, the first stage was tricky to get away since it was fairly flat," he said of the 111km stage from Plouzané to Ploumoguer, in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.
Advertisement
Gaffney got away on the opening stage in a group, which looked like it might make it all the way, until they were caught on the last lap of the circuit. That paved the way for a bunch sprint - from 100 riders of the 170 starters - won by Gabin Gicquel (OC Locminé), with Gaffney in 65th.
On Sunday's split stage, Gaffney took 16th in the morning 7.5km TT in Plougonvelin; some 25 seconds down on winner Simon Defrance (Soudal Quick-Step U19). That moved the Irish rider up to 14th overall, 20 seconds off yellow.
Related News
The final stage - on Sunday afternoon - took the riders 119km from Pointe-Saint-Mathieu to Plouzané. Gaffney rode strongly and moved up to a final position of 9th overall, some 38 seconds down on overall winner Luc Royer (VC Pays de Loudéac)
"It was hard enough to get away, it was fairly aggressive for the day," said Gaffney of the final stage, adding though he followed a lot of early moves off the front, none of them stuck.
"I chased an attack coming towards the end of a big 95k loop and then countered, which ended up creating the original breakaway of four. More caught us as the race went on and I could sense fatigue in the break but kept pushing for a good overall result.
"In the last few laps, on a smaller loop, a few people got away in staggers and it ended up with a small group off the front and my group just behind. I gave it a good go and was happy with the end general classification result."
That final stage was won by Thibaut Van Damme (Soudal Quick-Step U19), in a four-up sprint. Gaffney finished at the back of a 14-man group, sprinting for 10th, which crossed the line 22 seconds down on the winner.
