Ireland’s Conn McDunphy has enjoyed a strong weekend with EvoPro Racing, having just stepped up to the Irish Continental team in recent weeks. The 24-year-old, and Irish elite TT champion, was in the thick of the action in the finale of Gooikse Pijl (1.1) on Sunday.
Irish teenager Matthew Devins of Trinity Racing also performed
strongly. The 19-year-old has made the most of his chances in his first year out
of the juniors, finishing many of the major pro races he has competed in.
Yesterday's race, some 199km from Halle to Gooik, was won by Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep). The Dutch rider took the victory in a sprint from a reduced peloton, with Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) in 2nd place and Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe) in 3rd.
EvoPro Racing’s McDunphy was in the bunch, which was reduced to just 48 riders on the undulating circuit. He placed 39th and was among a group of 13 riders who were on the wrong side of small split in the peloton that opened in a sprint.
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While the result is not spectacular, it is a sign McDunphy has immediately adapted to life at a much higher level than he has been used to on the French amateur scene over the last couple of seasons.
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Devins was also in the reduced peloton yesterday until just before the finish but was caught behind a crash with about 3km to go. He eventually placed 59th at 1:05. He is now approaching the end of the season in the knowledge he has already begun to go the distance in 4½ hour races in stacked fields.
Dillon Corkery, who has been in the breakaways since stepping up to EvoPro Racing after competing on the amateur scene in France, was further back yesterday. But he recorded another finish at this higher level.
The 22-year-old was 108th, in a group 7:51 down. A problem with his gears on the final lap cost him his place in the remains of the peloton; an unfortunate end to the race having ridden hard to hold his place.
Sam Bennett was also in action again yesterday for Deceuninck-QuickStep. He was on team duties as the team’s full effort was behind Jakobsen. Bennett was a non-finisher, as was compatriot Rory Townsend of Canyon dhb SunGod.
On Saturday, Corkery and McDunphy were both in action for EvoPro at Primus Classic, which was a debut event for both at 1.Pro level. They finished in the same group – McDunphy 56th and Corkery 66th – some 6:53 down on race winner Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck-QuickStep).
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