At the end of 90km, top Irish junior Eoghan McLaughlin was too good for the Belgians (Photo with thanks to Martine Verfaillie)
Irish cyclist Eoghan McLaughlin wins in Belgium
Having already enjoyed a very strong season to date, Eoghan McLaughlin has taken victory in Belgium.
The Westport Covey Wheelers junior rider was competing yesterday in his last race of a 10-day trip there.
The 90km contest in Grandglise involved 24 laps of a technical local circuit, with a small climb each time.
After about eight laps McLaughlin and Dillon Corkery (NRPT-Titan Containers) escaped in a group of eight.
However, the two Irish riders and the Belgians they were with were caught after about 35km out front.
With around five laps remaining McLaughlin followed an attack on the climb by a local rider, Jonas Delaear
He got across to him and the pair worked well together to stay clear and contest the victory in a two-up sprint.
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Corkery on the front of the early escape with eventual winner and compatriot McLaughlin third in line (Photo: MartineVerfaillie)
McLaughlin said when his breakaway companion attacked the last time up the climb and failed to shake him off, he felt he had the race won.
“He kicked on the climb with a kilometre to go,” McLaughlin said.
“I knew he had wasted a lot of energy and I caught him just before the last corner.
“He was leading the sprint and I kicked with 200 metres to go and got the hands up.”
The Irish teenager and Corkery were set to return home today and will target the Junior Tour of Ireland.
McLaughlin has already won stages in Rás Mhaigh Eo and Rás Dhun na nGall this year as well as the Galway Criterium.
He has taken a string of other podium places including 3rd overall at the Gorey Three Day.
Wed, June 28th: Grandglise Juniors, Belgium (90km)
1 EOGHAN MC LAUGHLIN WESTPORTC W 02:24:06
2 DELAERE JONAS CT SPIDER KING EFC L&R TREK @1sec
3 ORLOWSKI KAMIL SPRINT 2000 CHARLEROI ASBL @36
4 DETHY MATTHIS SPRINT 2000 CHARLEROI @2:06
5 DECLERCQ MATHIAS ZANNATA GALLOO CYCLING MENE @3:06
6 MATTHYS LOUKA SPRINT 2000 CHARLEROI ASBL
7 CORKERY DILLON NR PT @4:26
8 VINCENT JOHAN SPRINT 2000 CHARLEROI ASBL
9 NICOLAES FRÉDÉRIC SPRINT 2000 CHARLEROI ASBL
10 DEVOOGDT TIEBO CYCLING TEAM LUC WALLAYS - JONGE RENNERS ROESELAR @7:06
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