Ben Walsh was facing into the unknown before the start, but he describes a stage he can take confidence from. He has his first big international race in the bag.
Irish cyclist Ben Walsh banks first big milestone
There may be four Irish riders in the Tour de Yorkshire but the opening stage of the race was a bigger juncture in Ben Walsh’s career than for the others.
The 18-year-old is in his first major international pro race. And while he was heading into the unknown yesterday morning, he came through the stage unscathed.
The Vitus Pro Cycling rider finished in the bunch at the end of the 182km stage from Beverley to Doncaster.
A breakaway, comprised exclusively of UK Continental team riders, just about held off the peloton.
Harry Tanfield (Canyon-Eisberg) won the day; taking stage victory and the leader’s jersey. The 23-year-old adds it to the silver medal he took in the TT at the Commonwealth Games.
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For his part; Ben Walsh said while the distance was a challenge for him, he was happy with how it went.
“The stage was more or less flat so there wasn’t too much to worry about. But I realised that these guys I usually see on TV aren’t superhuman," he said.
“Holding position was actually grand; as long as you don’t try and jump in the middle of a team train.
“At the start maybe I felt overawed a small bit. But it doesn’t be long disappearing. The next stages will be a lot harder due to the terrain, but I’ll see what I can do.”
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Five UK pro riders went for broke and made it all the way; fighting it out for the jerseys and the stage honours.
Walsh would eventually finish in 68th place; just five seconds off the winning escape.
In the breakaway, Tanfield put in an impressive seated power effort to the finish line as the others sprinted, more slowly, around him.
And while the bunch was breathing down the necks of the escapees, it failed to get back on terms.
Tanfield won from Alistair Slater (JLT Condor) and Mike Cuming (Madison-Genesis).
Emerson Oronte (Rally Cycling) and Thomas Baylis (One Pro Cycling) were also in the escape and were 4th and 5th to the line.
Axel Journiaux (Direct Energie) was the only European pro initially in the breakaway. But he was the one to drop back to the bunch; with 18km remaining.
Just behind the leading five on the line, Max Walscheid (Team Sunweb) took the bunch sprint for 6th place.
Robert Jon McCarthy (JLT-Condor) was best of the Irish, placing 22nd. Eddie Dunbar (Aqua Blue Sport) was 34th and Sean McKenna (Holdsworth Pro Cycling) placed 105th.
Today’s stage 2, below, takes the riders 149km from Barnsley to Ilkley. It features three climbs, including a 1.8km ramp at the finish.
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