Jake Gray, right, put up a spirited performance at the European Championships in France; the national road race champion proving best of the Irish on a very tough circuit.
By Brian Canty
Jake Gray was best of the Irish in the junior men’s road race at the European championships in France, the Dungannon man crossing the line at the end of the 123–kilometre contest 3’11” down on winner Nicolas Malle of France.
It was a memorable afternoon for the host nation as another Frenchman Emelien Jeanniere took silver with Tadej Pogacar (Slovakia) rounding out the podium in a race where just seven riders contested the sprint.
A large chunk were 10 seconds back while another clutch were well over three minutes down and the majority were listed as non-finishers.
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Gray was sitting comfortably in the bunch for much of the afternoon but when a big attack on the final lap forced a split in the bunch he was caught on the wrong side of it and would never manage to bridge to the front.
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He wasn’t the only man in green to miss that split as Robert O’Leary was also caught out by it.
Of the remaining riders, only the inexperienced Conor Leech finished and he was a very creditable 8’52” down in 109th.
Both those who rode the time-trial on Wednesday, Xeno Young and Ben Walsh, were both listed as non-finishers.
In the women’s 68-kilometre race, Emily Birchall and Ciara Doogan were outside the top 10, with Birchall finishing 63rd at 6’04” place and Doogan slightly further back in 71st at 6’ 23”.
Gold in that race went to Lianne Lippert of Germany with Elisa Balsamo of Italy next at four seconds and Sophie Wright of Britain third.
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