Jack Wilson and Conor Dunne in the escape in France; collecting time bonuses and the climbers' jersey as they storm almost six minutes clear of the main field.
There may only be two Irishmen in the Tour de Loir et Cher in France, but both of them made the three-man breakaway on stage 1 that gained more than six minutes on the main field.
An Post-Chainreaction’s Jack Wilson and his team mate from last year Conor Dunne, now riding for JLT Condor spent most of the 172km stage out from yesterday, Wednesday.
And while they were overhauled when the bunch decided to get to work, it was a very good day’s work for both Irishmen.
Dunne picked up the climbers’ classification jersey, with Wilson now 3rd in that contest.
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They escaped with Kersten Thiele of Rad-Net Rose, but riding for the German national team, about 80km into the stage and combining well built a lead of almost six minutes.
Irish rider Conor Dunne, extreme left, in the climbers' jersey at the end of the opening stage on Wednesday.
However, after about 60k out front and as the race began the first lap of three 15km finishing circuits the sprinters’ teams set to work on the front of the bunch, clearly unwilling to let the leader’s ride off with the stage and time gaps for the general classification.
And crossing the finish line on the first of three passages the gap was down to 3:20, with the breakaway proving too small to have any real chance from that point of surviving to the finish.
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However, not to be deterred the three leaders dug in and continued to combine well.
On the last lap Dunne decided the game was up and to preserve whatever reserves he could for the rest of the race, going back to the peloton after a great effort.
And while Wilson and his fellow escape Thiele ploughed on without Dunne, they too were caught soon after.
The final came down to a sprint which was won by Michael Goolaerts of Lotto – Soudal’s U23 team at the head of a group of five who pulled out three seconds on the bunch.
Wilson and Dunne were both held up a little by a crash in the closing stages but were credited with the same time as the peloton. They finished 116th and 133rd respectively.
And with time bonuses picked up while in the escape, Dunne is 6th overall 10 seconds behind race leader Goolaerts. And he has the climbers' jersey.
And Wilson is 8th overall, just 11 seconds off the leader. The race continues to Sunday.
David Montgomery was down to ride for An Post-Chainreaction but he did not start the stage.
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