Ireland's Conor Dunne was in the thick of the action in the early exchanges in England, trying to get clear in a breakaway; seen here on the front of the bunch before the wet and muddy roads caked the riders kit and faces.
By Brian Canty
Ireland’s Sam Bennett has notched another superb result in his maiden season in the professional ranks when he claimed sixth place in the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, won by Briton Adam Blythe (NFTO Cycling).
However, the Carrick man was the victim of a very unfortunate twist of bad luck in awful conditions this afternoon. After he had worked himself into the winning move of 11 riders he was to puncture out of it.
He had a frantic chase back on but the effort of that took its toll and when a five-man group pulled away from the escape, Bennett was left behind in the second group on the road.
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Though the gap between the front five and chasing six was never insurmountable, a lack of co-operation from those behind mitigated against them getting back on level terms; with those present perhaps feeling reluctant to aid Bennett in any way win given his finishing kick.
He would come in just 12 seconds behind the winner.
Jack Wilson on the front of a small group trying to go clear; getting into an escape proved tougher than it looked today.
The NetApp-Endura man looked superb all day; always in the thick of things and visible near the front of the race throughout.
Though he had less racing kilometres in his legs prior to today than in the lead in to other major races this year, he had prepared specifically for today sensing it was an opportunity to add to his winning run already this year.
Bennett will be back in Britain next month for the Tour of Britain, a race where he won a stage and claimed two second places last year.
Blythe, who was in the WorldTour last year but was dropped by BMC, timed his gallop to perfection today to get away from Team Sky’s Ben Swift on The Mall after his team had piled the pressure on earlier.
The British pair were to lead home a five-man breakaway ahead of Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) and Kristijan Koren (Cannondale).
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Former national road race champion, Matt Brammeier looking focussed today, on the far right of this shot.
Although the rain held off for most of the race, the narrow roads of Surrey remained treacherous following earlier downpours and there were a number of crashes.
After an early breakaway group had been caught midway through the afternoon - a move that featured An Post Rás stage winner Markus Eibegger of the Synergy Baku Cycling Team - former world champion Gilbert did much to animate the race as his attacks splintered the leading group until only five remained.
However, his attempts to get free in the final five kilometres failed and it was left to the sprinters on The Mall.
Jack Wilson was another Irish rider to perform well on the day; the An Post Chainreaction man coming home in 17th place, just 32 seconds down on the winner. His team mate Conor Dunne was in the same group.
Both riders, along with third An Post man Ryan Mullen, were active early in the day in trying to get clear in an escape.
Provisional Results
1 BLYTHE, Adam (GBR) NFTO 04:39:53
2 SWIFT, Ben (GBR) Sky ProCycling 04:39:53
3 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (FRA) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step… 04:39:54
4 GILBERT, Philippe (BEL) BMC Racing Team 04:39:54
5 KOREN, Kristijan (SLO) Cannondale 04:39:56
6 BENNETT, Sam (IRL) Team NetApp – Endura 04:40:05
7 VLIEGEN, Loic (BEL) BMC Racing Team 04:40:06
8 CLEMENT, Stef (NED) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 04:40:06
9 VIVIANI, Elia (ITA) Cannondale 04:40:24
10 DOWNING, Russell (GBR) NFTO 04:40:24
11 KOHLER, Martin (SUI) BMC Racing Team 04:40:24
12 SBARAGLI, Kristian (ITA) MTN-Qhubeka p.b Samsung 04:40:24
13 VAN DER LIJKE, Nick (NED) Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 04:40:24
14 BAUGNIES, Jerome (BEL) Wanty-Group Gobert 04:40:24
15 HOUSE, Kristian (GBR) Rapha Condor JLT 04:40:24
16 EISING, Tijmen (NED) Metec – TKH Contintental … 04:40:24
17 WILSON, Jack (IRL) An Post Chain Reaction 04:40:25
18 BAKKER, Dennis (NED) Metec – TKH Contintental … 04:40:25
19 LAMPIER, Steve (GBR) Velosure-Giordana Racing … 04:40:25
20 MUHLBERGER, Gregor (AUT) Team NetApp – Endura 04:40:25
29 DUNNE, Conor (IRL) An Post Chain Reaction 04:40:26
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