Fionn Killeen enjoyed a very strong ride for the Irish junior team in Czech Republic on a what proved to be a mixed week for the Irish
Fionn Killeen has demonstrated his potential at international level after getting into the mix on debut for Team Ireland at Course de la Paix Juniors in the Czech Republic, taking results from the UCI Junior Nations Cup stage race.
It was something of a bumpy ride in places for the Irish juniors, with some mishaps along the way. However, all of the team members were making their road debuts for Ireland, meaning they gained invaluable experience.
The junior international scene has become increasingly difficult every season, as the pro outfits have staged a takeover of U23 racing via their development teams. In that context, Killeen’s ability to make an impression was really impressive and should not be under estimated.
He had already ridden exceptionally well at Dornan Rás Mumhan over the Easter weekend, with 3rd on the hardest stage finish to Kerryman's Table. Anyone who saw him win the junior race at the National Cyclocross Championships in January had already been left in no doubt they were looking at a really promising talent.
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And now with one international road race under his belt, Killeen has taken the strain of stepping up another level. He absorbed that pressure and showed he has the goods for European racing.
Shane O'Brien was one of three finishers for the Irish junior team at Course de la Paix Juniors (2.Ncup)
However, one swallow doesn't make a spring and the other riders on the team also performed strongly. And while bad luck undermined the efforts of two of top juniors – James Louge and George Sevastopulo - they live to fight another day and better luck will hopefully be on their side next time around.
How the five stages went
Caleb McGreevy and Killeen both finished in the bunch on the opening day - a 110.2km stage with over 1,000m of elevation gain. They were four seconds down on stage winner Brandon Fedrizzi (Italy). George Sevastopulo and Shane O'Brien were in a group at 6:27, on a day when the field split significantly.
The stage 2a TT, some 8.8km in Třebívlice, was won by Denmark's Malthe Risbjerg. Killeen was 81st at 1:06, O'Brien was 91st at 1:11, McGreevy was 97th at 1:16 and Sevastopulo was 127th at 1:41.
On stage 2b, some 63.8km to Terezín, the finish came down to a large bunch sprint, though again many riders were off the back. Killeen took a fine 6th place, on the same time as winner Tommaso Cingolani (Italy). That was Team Ireland’s best result of the race.
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Stage 3 was the hilliest of the race - some 113km from Teplice to Olbernhau - with 2,000m of climbing. It witnessed the biggest splits of the five-stage event, with a group of 36 vying for victory in the final.
The Italians took another win, this time with Patrik Pezzo Rosola. Killeen and O'Brien finished in a group at 3:43, in 60th and 68th, with McGreevy 88th at 9:11.
Ireland's George Sevastopulo in action for Team Ireland during the stage 2a TT in Třebívlice
And on the final stage, some 102.4km in Terezín, when the honours came down to a bunch sprint, Killeen was 13th. McGreevy and O'Brien also in the bunch; in 52nd and 98th respectively.
That was another very strong result for Killeen. And when his two stage placings, and the fact this was his Team Ireland debut, are taken into account, he can very happy with his performance.
Overall, the race was won by stage 3 victor, Italy’s Patrik Pezzo Rosola. Killeen was 57th at 4:50, O’Brien 82nd at 11:18 and McGreevy 84th at 11:37.
Bad luck hits
James Logue was very unfortunate to be caught out on some splits on the opening stage, many of those caused by crashes. As the start of the stage was hilly, once some of those splits emerged there was no way back for many riders.
About 60 riders found themselves off the back of the bunch during the 110.2km stage to Úštěk over undulating terrain. And when the group Logue was in almost all packed the race on the circuit, that was his race over.
George Sevastopulo who, like Logue, has focussed a lot of his efforts on the track to date, suffered a crash on stage 2b. Though he was able to finish that stage, he took a blow to the head. And it was decided he would be withdrawn from the race as a safety precaution, meaning he did not start the next day.
Those exits for Logue and Sevastopulo, after both were very unlucky, were disappointing, but they will fight another day for Team Ireland, on the roads and on the velodrome.
