Connor McConvey and Damien Shaw face their first major test of the season on Friday ahead in France (Photo: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
The Etoile de Bességes pro stage race in France might be overshadowed by bigger events in Dubai and Valencia, but the second leg of the race played host to an absolutely enthralling game of breakaway versus peloton.
In the end, as is often the case, the peloton won the day.
But spare a thought for those who were swallowed up within spitting distance of the line on Thursday - Kai Reus (Veranda's Willems) and Dimitri Claeys (Wanty - Groupe Gobert).
So close to winning was Claeys after jumping clear of his long-time ally Reus that he managed to take third; though his expression on the podium was one of utter disgust.
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Those two were part of the initial five-man break that also featured Quentin Pacher (Delko Marseille-Provence KTM), former An Post Rás winner Nicolas Baldo (Team Roth) and Antoine Leleu (Veranclassic-AGO).
The biggest advantage they had was over four minutes and they really worked hard for it, so much so that three were dropped.
Damien Shaw is getting a great grounding this week and is holding his own so far; a good sign for the season ahead (Photo: Sirotti)
For the Irish An Post Chainreaction duo in the race - Connor McConvey and Damien Shaw, it was a calmer day than Wednesday's opener.
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After his debut for the team on stage 1, Shaw said he was in survival mode as soon as the flag dropped.
He wasn't helped by requiring a bike change after getting caught up in a crash and spent much of the day hovering around the rear of the peloton.
On Thursday's stage 2 he was in the front half of the bunch, crossing the line in 96th place in the same time as stage winner Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie); the Frenchman retaining the race leader’s jersey he claimed on also winning the opening stage.
Shaw is 115th overall at 1:34 while McConvey is right up there in 21st overall at 20 seconds.
The latter said he is hoping he can move up overall tomorrow.
“Today was a bit more straight-forward than yesterday.
“It was a headwind all day so the bunch stayed intact a little bit better.
“A few of the team rode in the final to try and get the break back and set up Vereecken (for the sprint) and they really did a superb job because on those final circuits it wasn’t easy.
“Tomorrow is going to be the big day though, so we’ve spared ourselves a little for that.”
Indeed, the third stage should see a considerable shake-up in the standings as there’s a brutal 152-kilometre trek ahead of the riders, starting and finishing in Besseges.
There are three category one climbs which all top out at around 420 metres.
An Post Chainreaction’s Vereecken took 10th in the gallop today and he's their best-placed man in 11th overall in the same time as McConvey.
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