Ireland's Archie Ryan bounces back strongly at GP Miguel Indurain | Video

Archie Ryan may have had some issues in the early months of the season but the Irishman has bounced back very strong at GP Miguel Indurain

Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) has put in a very strong ride at GP Miguel Indurain in Spain, suggesting he is back on track after a difficult start to the season.

The Irish rider recently told stickybottle he had picked up several viruses, from the time he began his season in Mallorca, before a crash at Strade Bianche and a further bout of illness further hampered his efforts.

However, having finished 5th at GP Miguel Indurain 12 months ago, Ryan went back today in the knowledge he could make an impact. And he proved one of the very strongest on the final climb of the day.

He pulled clear with eventual winner Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) on the final kicker, in the last 2km of the 204km race into Estella-Lizarra. They were pursuing a strong late breakaway just seconds ahead. While Ryan was unable to hold the flying Belgian, Nys, he put in a very strong shift.

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Nys caught and passed the breakaway men on the climb, with Ryan among a small number of riders who dropped the remains of the bunch to catch most of the breakaway and fight it out for the minor places.

In the end, Ryan's 11th place won't jump out from his palmares, but it is proof he was very strong - at the hardest part of the final after five hours of racing. And that represents a big change compared to the problems he has had so far this year.

Just three seconds behind Nys today, late breakaway man Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) claimed 2nd place from Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek). There was then a gap of four seconds to the next three home, before Ryan's small group finished another two seconds back; the Irish rider towards the back in 11th.

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More to come.

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