The Irish U23 national team has taken a top 10 on stage 1 of Tour de l'Avenir with Mark Downey. Above, Germany's Max Kanter takes the opening stage win and the first yellow jersey of the race.
Mark Downey takes top 10 at Tour de l'Avenir
Mark Downey has started the Tour de l'Avenir by sprinting into the top 10 on the opening stage of the international U23 race.
The Team Wiggins man, riding for Ireland in this race, finished in 9th place today.
Max Kanter claimed victory for Germany. Alan Banaszek of Poland was next, with Damien Touze rounding out the podium for France.
Downey claimed three top 10 finishes on this race last year before he was forced to abandon.
He and Matt Teggart will both fancy their chances of a sprint stage win in France; a gallop from a reduced group their best option.
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The Irish in France, left to right: Feeley, Teggart, O'Mahony, Dunbar, O'Loughlin and Downey.
Also riding the race on the Irish team is their Team Wiggins team mate Michael O'Loughlin. He went very close to a victory 12 months ago.
The selection is a very strong one, also featuring Daire Feeley (Union Cycliste de Monaco), Darragh O’Mahony (Team CC Nogent-sur-Oise) and Eddie Dunbar (Aqua Blue Sport).
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All are capable of getting up the road and challenging. Indeed, O'Loughlin, O'Mahony and Teggart did just that last year.
Dunbar, who said he feels the Irish team can do very well on the stage 4 TTT, is Ireland's best chance in the overall.
And they’re off!!! @tourdelavenir @IreCyclingFed @Spin11ireland pic.twitter.com/QEQfeYNjKH
— Optimum PT (@optimum_dee) August 17, 2018
There are some very high mountains to come in the second half of the race. Egan Bernal pounced in the mountains to win overall last year before signing for Team Sky.
Today's stage, some 132.5km from Grand-Champ to Elven, came down to a bunch sprint after an early escapee had been reeled in.
The Irish are racing against many of the very best young riders in the world. For some, their pro careers are already effectively underway; today's top three an example of that.
Winner, and now race leader, Kanter (20) is riding for WorldTour squad Team Sunweb as a stagiaire at present.
He also spent the second half of last season with the team. Further, he has signed with the outfit for the next two years.
Banaszek (20) is in his third season with ProContinental team CCC Sprandi Polkowice. The former European junior road race champion signed for the team straight out of the juniors.
Touze (22) has signed for ProContinental team Cofidis for the next two years. He recently won Kreiz Breizh Elites (2.2) in France; leading from start to finish after taking the opening stage.
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