Matt Teggart (Velo Club Villefranche Beaujolais) enjoyed a strong performance yesterday at just his third race of the year at Paris-Troyes (1.2).
The 179.9km race from Nogent-sur-Seine to Troyes featured four local circuits, with four short sharp climbs each lap. That climbing, combined with the crosswinds on an exposed course saw the race split to pieces.
It was won by Romain Cardis (St Michel-Auber93) in a sprint from an 11-man breakaway, with Teggart finishing in the second group on the road, of 34 riders, which was 24 seconds down.
Teggart told stickybottle it was very touch day out with temperatures of about 6°c and rain from the off, in day-long crosswinds.
“I was so cold and wasn’t feeling great all day; I never really properly warmed up,” said the 24-year elite international.
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Teggart continued: “It was just all about putting myself in a good position and trying to stay there all day so to not miss the splits in the crosswinds.
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“The race never stopped and so the bunch just kept
getting smaller and smaller in the crosswinds,” he said, adding he was content
with his performance as the race was better suited to heavy classics-style
riders.
“This is only my third race of the season too so I’m
pleased with the form, I’ll get better with every race. I’m keen for what’s to
come, especially when we hit some hillier terrain.”
Michael O'Loughlin, the former U23 and junior Irish champion, was making his season debut, and his first appearance for EvoPro Racing. He was a non finisher; perhaps not surprising as he has not raced for so long and was getting his 2021 campaign underway at this level.
Irish elite TT champion Conn McDunphy (CC Nogent-sur-Oise) was 52nd at 2:02 on a day when he endured a rotten day with a double punctured after 50km and then suffering another mechanical, as his chain became jammed, when trying to get clear in a group later in the race.
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