Jack Wilson performing very strongly at the Tour l’Eurométropole (Circuit Franco-Belge) in Belgium today against the biggest teams in the sport (Photo: Lydia Van de Meerssche)
The end of the season may be almost upon us, but National U23 Champion Jack Wilson has demonstrated in recent days that he's emerging from his first year at An Post-Chainreaction with some great form.
The Irishman has been riding very well in the Tour de l'Eurométropole (2.1) in Belgium and is clearly not overawed by racing alongside the biggest teams in the sport.
On the opening of four stages on Thursday, Wilson finished in the main bunch after almost 4½ hours in the saddle. Yesterday's stage 2 was a more testing affair and took the riders some 172.5km, starting and finishing in Poperinge. The result suggested it was one for the sprinters, with John Degenkolb (Argos Shimano) taking the bunch sprint that settled the stage.
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However, the bunch fractured in the finale, with small gaps emerging through the field meaning the German won from a group of just 47 riders. Wilson was caught out a little and found himself on the wrong side of a couple of splits, coming home in 86th place, some 35 seconds down and just one place behind Johnny Hoogerland (Vancansoleil DCM).
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The stage saw 20 riders pull out and 60 of the field lose at least five minutes. Wilson making it to the finale within the peloton was a very strong ride.
On stage 3 today, Saturday, the riders faced 164km from Hazebrouck to Nieuwpoort. The spoils were settled in another bunch sprint, this time from 128 riders of 170 starters.
It was won by Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) after 3hrs 47mins in the saddle, with Wilson coming home in 26th place on the same time as the victorious American; a result that suggests he is really starting to find his feet at this level in what is just his second year out of the junior ranks.
Going into the fourth and final stage tomorrow, Sunday - a 154km leg from Mons to Tournai - the race lead is held by Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol), with Wilson in 65th of the 162 riders still in the race, just 52 seconds adrift.
The only other Irish rider to start the race, Wilson's team mate Sean Downey was forced out on the opening stage.
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