Adam Ward gets Spanish season off to flying start with big win | Sticky Bottle

*Adam Ward looks delighted with his win in Spain, which was a huge confidence booster for the Irishman after a tricky pandemic-hit season last year (Photo: Ana Domínguez Fotografía)*

Irish rider Adam Ward has gotten his season in Spain off to a flying start with victory in the 154km Grand Premi Lleida.

The 20-year-old Irishman was due to spend last year with
his Girona-based team, Antiga Casa Bellsolà, before the pandemic intervened and
he was forced to put those plans to one side.

However, he began the current season in Ireland and took
victory in the Lakeland GP last month before setting off for Spain to join his
team there.

And on Sunday, Ward enjoyed a very strong ride at Grand Premi Lleida, in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region. While he initially missed the winning breakaway, he attacked the peloton and got clear.

*Ward and his Australian breakaway companion on the way to fight it out for victory (Photo: Ana Domínguez Fotografía)*

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After riding across to the escape group, which also
contained two of his team mates, Ward then attacked from it and got clear with
Australian rider Daniel Joseph (Equipo Oleka).

When Ward and Joseph came to the line together, the
Irishman made the most of his finishing kick and comfortably beat his rival to
take a big win after over 3½ hours in the saddle.

Some 22 seconds after the leading duo finished, Erik
Martorell (Elite Team MP Group) came in solo for 3rd place.

He was followed three seconds later by four riders who had been in the breakaway, while another three riders from the breakaway finished seconds later.