Eddie Dunbar was hopeful Monday's stage might be good for him, but it proved to be a very tough test for the Irish at the Tour of Britain (Photo: Larry Hickmott)
The second stage of the Tour of Britain proved to be a stern test for the Irishmen in race, but they come home in some very big company and will have other chances in the days ahead.
The An Post-Chainreaction duo of Conor Dunne and Jack Wilson, along with Cannondale-Garmin debutant Ryan Mullen and NFTO’s Eddie Dunbar crossed the line at the end of the 153.9km stage from Clithero to Colne in a large group 21:53 down.
They came home alongside big names such as Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) and Bradley Wiggins (Team Wiggins).
The stage was won by Petr Vakoc (Etixx-Quick Step). The 23-year-old Czech national champion also took the leader's jersey after springing from the breakaway to win big.
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He was among an eight-man group that went clear of the cat 1 Bleara Moor with 55km of racing ahead of the riders.
In that escape with the eventual stage winner and new race leader were: Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing), Alex Peters (Great Britain), Alberto Bettiol (Cannondale-Garmin), Wout Poels (Sky), Pim Ligthart, Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka) and Rubén Fernández (Movistar).
Vakoc attacked the breakaway just inside the 20km remaining marker.
Although the depleted peloton were within 30 seconds of the lone leader on the run-in, he managed to stay clear; taking the victory by 7 seconds from Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Movistar Team).
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He led home the bunch by 2 seconds from Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN - Qhubeka).
The main field had split earlier on the stage - on the slopes of the cat 1 Bleara Moor - with the Irish finding themselves on the back foot.
Tuesday’s stage 3 from Cockermouth to Kelso is 216km, with three cat 2 climbs in the second half of the race.
Stage 2: Clithero - Colne (153.9km)
1 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick Step 4:02:22
2 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Esp) Movistar Team 0:00:07
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:09
4 Rasmus Guldhammer Pedersen (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
5 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick Step
6 Owain Doull (GBr) Team WIGGINS
7 Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto - Soudal
8 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team
9 Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Movistar Team
10 Javier Mejias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
80 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Team Cannondale - Garmin @21:53
97 Jack Wilson (Irl) An Post - Chainreaction
99 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) NFTO
108 Conor Dunne (Irl) An Post - Chainreaction
General Classification
1 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick Step 8:28:41
2 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Esp) Movistar Team 0:00:11
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:15
4 Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team 0:00:17
5 Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky 0:00:18
6 Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team Cannondale - Garmin
7 Owain Doull (GBr) Team WIGGINS 0:00:19
8 Graham Briggs (GBr) JLT Condor
9 Rasmus Guldhammer Pedersen (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
10 Serge Pauwels (Bel) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:25
85 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Team Cannondale - Garmin 0:22:11
99 Conor Dunne (Irl) An Post - Chainreaction 0:22:19
107 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) NFTO 0:22:35
111 Jack Wilson (Irl) An Post - Chainreaction 0:23:55
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