Dillon Corkery has taken a string of top placings, including 2nd in the final general classification, in Tour de la Manche, a five-day elite stage race in Normandy.
The event was won overall by French rider Ewen Costiou (Côtes d'Armor-Marie Morin), by just three seconds from Corkery (CC Etupes), with Mickaël Guichard (WB-Fybolia Morbihan) 3rd at eight seconds.
On the opening stage last Thursday - some 165.3km from Yquelon to Carteret - Corkery was in the eight-man breakaway that gained 1:36 on the peloton and finished 3rd. He was on the same time as stage winner Guichard.
The second stage took the riders 174.3km from Barneville-Carteret to Torigni, with a three-rider move gaining 35 seconds on the remains of the peloton; numbering 55 riders, with Corkery placing 11th on the stage. He picked up a number of time bonuses along the way on the opening two stages and was 2nd overall, at two seconds, going into the stage 3 TT.
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That 11.8km test in Condé-sur-Vire on Saturday morning was won by Pierre Thierry (WB-Fybolia Morbihan) by two seconds from his team mate and race leader Guichard. Corkery placed 6th at 23 seconds, meaning the Irishman remained in 2nd place, some 23 seconds behind yellow jersey Guichard.
That afternoon the riders faced a 101.5km tough 101.5km stage from Torigni-sur-Vire to Mortain. It was won by stage 1 victor Costiou, with Corkery finishing in a 15-rider chasing group at 49 seconds.
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He had been aggressive throughout that stage and at one point escaped in a dangerous breakaway with eventual overall winner Costiou. They went clear on a hard climb and appeared to have cracked the yellow jersey, Guichard. However, his team gradually took control behind as the race progressed and managed to drag Guichard to within 10 seconds of Corkery's group by the finish.
The stage result saw Guichard retain his race lead, with Costiou jumping to 2nd on GC, at six seconds, and Corkery slipping one place to 3rd, at 13 seconds.
On Sunday's fifth and final stage - some 159.8km from Sourdeval to Granville - Corkery was again on the attack; part of a small strongman's group that got clear on a climb about 5km from the finish, with race leader Guichard being left behind.
Corkery was in that four-man group with stage 4 winner and 2nd placed overall, Costiou, and 4th placed on GC Lambert Lecamus (Florentin). Lecamus won the stage from Johan Le Bon (Dinan Sport Cycling) with Corkerky 3rd and Costiou 4th, all on the same time.
They finished 15 seconds up on a 25-man chasing group containing the race leader. That ensured Costiou took the race overall, with Corkery 2nd. Fellow Irishman John Buller (AC Bisontine) was also in the race and finished 54th in the final overall while Aaron Wade (Team U Cube 17) was forced out of the race on stage 3 after crashing.
