Irish riders have been in action all across Europe; here's a round-up of some of that Irish cycling news.
Irish cycling news stories from European scene
Lauren Creamer was best of the Irish women’s team today in the Kreiz Breizh Elites Féminin-Tour de Belle-Isle-en-Terre (WE 1.2).
The race in Brittany was 128km in length and featured many top trade teams from the professional ranks.
It was won by British rider Danielle Christmas (Bizkaia Durango-Euskadi Murias); by five seconds from Maelle Grossetete (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope).
After the leading duo came a gap of almost two minutes to the reduced peloton. It contained just 31 riders, with two of the Irish women present.
Creamer was 22nd on the day and national road race champion Eve McCrystal also made the cut; coming home in 33rd place.
Both women put in very strong rides to finish in that group on a day when just 55 riders finished and 51 would abandon.
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Irish riders Katharine Smyth, Aine Donegan and Michelle Geoghegan were among the non-finishers. However, with some more international competition the step up would be made smaller.
While the Irish women were in action in France, some of our men were racing in Belgium today.
The 202km Grand Prix Cerami (1.1) was won by Peter Kennaugh; the Bora-hansgrohe rider rediscovering his form after a poor season to date.
He put in a very strong ride as part of a leading two-man move for a long time and yet still had the legs for a late winning attack.
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The race was marked by scorching weather that turned to a downpour and strong winds.
Ryan Mullen (Trek-Segafredo) was one of two Irish in the race. He placed 116th at some 9:16. Meanwhile, Conor Dunne of Aqua Blue Sport was a non-finisher.
Mullen, who like Dunne has had a month away from racing, is down to ride the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic (1.UWT) this Sunday.
Also scheduled to take to the start line is Sam Bennett. The Bora-hansgrohe rider will be one of the favourites after his success, including three Giro stages, so far this season.
Meanwhile in more Irish cycling news; in Italy Daire Feeley has put in a very strong ride to take his best result of the season.
The U23 international, who rode the Baby Giro with his UC Monaco team, took 6th place in the major Italian one-day race Cirre Pian Della Muss.
The Roscommon man was active from the gun and got clear in a group of six.
Feeley late attack
They built a gap and were later joined by a 17-man chasing group. That made for a group of over 20 out front.
As the riders hit the final climb, to the summit finish at 1,800 metres, Feeley was again to the fore.
He attacked hard and got clear in an eight-man move, taking 6th on the finish line; his legs clearly very good after the Baby Giro.
Furthermore, over in Belgium a group of Irish juniors have settled in for a mid-season spell of racing. And they've been making Irish cycling news.
Powerhouse Sport riders Breandan Flannagan and Adam Ward have taken 1-2s in two races; each taking a victory.
And now Ward has won another kermesse; soloing away in Schoonderbuken.
The others – Cian May, Cathir Doyle and Conor Gallagher – have also been riding very well. Indeed, Doyle took 4th in the event Ward won.
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