Breandan Flannagan, placing 2nd above, and Adam Ward are making their presence felt on the Belgian junior road racing scene (All photos with many thanks to Martine Verfaillie)
Irish cyclists on Belgian junior road scene
Irish cyclists Breandan Flannagan and Adam Ward are making their presence felt on the Belgian junior road racing scene.
Both proved very aggressive in their 93.6km Juniores Kooigem event in West Flanders yesterday.
Robbie Doherty (Ballymoney CC) and Michael McGlynn (Omagh Wheelers) are also giving good accounts of themselves.
Flannagan put in an expertly timed attack late and would finish 2nd on the day. Ward was aggressive throughout though missed the vital move.
Both riders compete in the colours of Powerhouse Sport at home and are in Belgium for an August racing stint.
Yesterday’s race saw the riders take on 17 laps of an undulating course. It featured a climbers' competition as well as a cobbled section and plenty of corners.
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The technical aspects were made more difficult by the wet conditions.
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Adam Ward leads a three-man breakaway that was eventually caught. Omagh Wheelers man Michael McGlynn, who was unlucky to puncture.
Adam Ward started out very strongly, taking the climbers prime on the opening lap.
He recovered over the next few laps and was off the front again on the fourth lap.
Ward would ride clear with two Belgians and they combined well to stay away for half the race.
However, the three escapees were reeled in with five laps remaining.
After they were caught, Ward and Flannagan would remain aggressive. And with one lap to go Flannagan made his move.
He picked his moment perfectly and was joined by one of the Belgians. They made it to the finish, with Flannagan beaten for victory by his breakaway companion.
Ward had a go off the front in an attempt to get clear and take 3rd place. However, his attack was covered.
In the end he placed 17th, coming home in a 27-rider group 6 seconds behind the two leaders.
Doherty missed a key split in the bunch towards the end of the race. He would finish in the second section of the bunch in 53rd place.
McGlynn was unlucky in the wet conditions and punctured out of the race.
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