Conor Dunne on the front during his 200km-long escape on a blisteringly hot day in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the European Games.
Conor Dunne was best of the Irish team in the men's road race at the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan; going clear in the main escape of the day.
Dunne, who rides for trade team An Post-Chainreaction but was competing for the national squad in Baku, was among a large escape that broke clear in the opening stages of the 215km event.
The course, which included a cobbled climb on six laps of a 12.8km loop before 10 circuits of a 13.9km lap, saw the field split to pieces.
While Dunne's group was overhauled on the last lap of the race, paving the way for those who made their move very late to fill the top 10, it was a fantastic ride by the Irishman.
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He animated the early part of the race and it was his aggression that was key to pulling the breakaway clear. And but for a puncture inside the last 15km he was on for a much higher placing on the day.
He has aged out of the U23 category so his opportunities to ride for Ireland will be much fewer. However, he took his chance very well today, putting in his best ever performance in an Irish jersey.
Eddie Dunbar was the only other Irishman to finish of the five-man team.
And while he was 48th, some 14:44 down on winner Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain); the fact he completed the course underlines his determination.
Given the fact he is still a first-year U23 and is only coming back from breaking his collar bone at the Tour de Yorkshire, it was a strong and spirited ride by him.
Ryan Mullen pulled out early having ridden for the team today. His main focus at the Games was the time trial last week in which he finished a very strong 8th place.
Sean Downey was tailed off late in the day today and was a non finisher, though he remained in the greatly depleted peloton until very close to the end of the race.
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Jack Wilson was also listed as a non finisher having crashed. That spill continued what has been a season blighted by bad luck.
The last time he rode for Ireland at the Nations Cup two months ago he crashed, breaking his collar bone and bone in his wrist.
At the head of the race today, Sanchez took the title in a sprint from a four-man group. Ukrainian Andrily Grivko won silver with Czech rider Petr Vakoc rounding out the podium.
Dunne came home in 45th place, some 6:31 down on the winner.
Caroline Ryan rode the women's race yesterday and while she spent a 10km period off the front of the bunch she later abandoned.
Like Mullen, her main focus was the time trial, where she finished 15th of the 30-rider field midweek.
Sanchez sprints to win
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