Dillon Corkery (CC Étupes) is back in form after his celebrations following his Rás Tailteann victory on home roads last month. He rode very strongly over the last three days in France to take a top five in the final general classification.
While he was among a group of riders to lose 19 seconds on a breakaway yesterday - after a strong ride in Friday's prologue TT - the Corkman came good today on the final stage at Tour du Pays de Montbéliard (2.2).
On today's 160km stage 2 - starting and finishing in Dampierre-les-Bois - Corkery (24) placed 7th on the after a 15-man breakaway went to the finish to fight for victory. That was enough to move the Irishman up six places in the final general classification to 5th position.
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Corkery had placed 6th in the 3.2km prologue on Friday in Courcelles-lès-Montbéliard, some eight seconds down on stage winner Marceli Bogusławski (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development). On yesterday's 171.6km stage 1 - starting and finishing in Colombier-Fontaine - Corkery was among a 32-rider group that finished 19 seconds down on a seven-strong breakaway.
Sten Van Gucht (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme) won the stage to take the yellow jersey. And when the 30-year-old Belgian finished in the lead group today he wrapped up overall victory. Today's final stage was won by top cyclocross pro Laurens Sweeck (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development), with Corkery finishing on the same time in 7th place.
