Jamie Meehan limbers up for big Cofidis move with French Cup victory

Jamie Meehan is about to step up for a stint with World Tour team Cofidis and has hit form at the right time, winning big in France today (Photo: Caroline Kerley)

Jamie Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole) said he was in a hurry today to get to a TV to watch Donegal play Kerry in the All-Ireland final and so the Irishman went long in the lastest round of the French Cup to win solo.

It is Meehan's first major victory in France and comes in the nick of time, just as he is about to step up to World Tour level with Cofidis. He starts a stagiere with the team from August 1st after proving himself one of the best climbers in the U23 Europen peloton, especially on the really big mountains, this season.

Meehan (21) had already confirmed his form last month by winning U23 gold, for the second time, in the men's road race at the National Road Championships in Co Meath. And then he went to Italy for Giro Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc (2.2U), where he exceled at altitude on the summit finishes.

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Sunday's Roger Walkowiak Souvenir Trophy - the fourth round of the top tier French Cup - in Cusset in the foothills of the Bourbonnaise Mountains didn't race over any high peaks. However, that didn't stop Meehan, who quietly got through the first climbs of the 173km race before making the nine-man front group and coming into his own as the race progressed.

With 25km to go - knowing he was not going to win a sprint - Meehan took flight and managed to get clear on his own. Once there was daylight between him and the chasers, he put his head down and went all-in to the finish.

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When he arrived at the end of the race to take the chequered flag, he was 27 seconds up on Hugo Millet (Mayenne-V and B-Monbana) in 2nd place, with Victor Loulergue (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme) 3rd at 30 seconds.

The remainder of the breakaway finished in ones and twos between 30 and 41 seconds behind Meehan, who never had a massive gap all the time he was on his own. The remains of the peloton finished at 3:43, with Dean Harvey (Martigues Sport Cyclisme Payden-Rygel) in that group and placing 29th after his recent win at Tour de Martinique.

"A lot of events in Ireland have the same format, so it was perfect for me," Meehan told Direct Velo, adding the All-Ireland final eventually came into his thoughts.

"I was flat out. I wasn't thinking about anything. It was long, alone. My county is playing in the All-Ireland final, so I wanted to get back quickly to see what it was like."

Trophée Roger Walkowiak-Ville de Cusset | Top 30

  1. Jamie MEEHAN AVC AIX PROVENCE DOLE 4h07'18"
  2. Hugo MILLET MAYENNE-V AND B-MONBANA 27"
  3. Victor LOULERGUE BOURG-EN-BRESSE AIN CYCLISME 30"
  4. Victor VIDAL CC ÉTUPES 30"
  5. Louka LESUEUR VC ROUEN 76 32"
  6. Tristan DELACROIX AVC AIX PROVENCE DOLE 38"
  7. Louis HARDOUIN GUIDON CHALETTOIS 38"
  8. Guillaume ADAM VC ROUEN 76 38"
  9. Tao QUEMERE VC VILLEFRANCHE BEAUJOLAIS 41"
  10. Larry VALVASORI AC BISONTINE 2'26"
  11. Nicolas SILLIAU BOURG-EN-BRESSE AIN CYCLISME 3'43"
  12. Clément PETIT VC ROUEN 76 3'43"
  13. Simon BARAN VC VILLEFRANCHE BEAUJOLAIS 3'43"
  14. Lorris GERY UC PÉLUSSIN LOIRE PILAT 3'43"
  15. Emilien VANDERMEERSCH TEAM LOCKIMMO.COM 3'43"
  16. Hugo THÉOT PARIS CYCLISTE OLYMPIQUE 3'43"
  17. Julien MARIN HEXAGONE-CORBAS LYON MÉTROPOLE 3'43"
  18. Peder Antoni GRAVAS HEXAGONE-CORBAS LYON MÉTROPOLE 3'43"
  19. Jorgen SEKSE CC ÉTUPES 3'43"
  20. Arthur MEYER BOURG-EN-BRESSE AIN CYCLISME 3'43"
  21. Joseph BROOKES AVC AIX PROVENCE DOLE 3'43"
  22. Rémi ARSAC BOURG-EN-BRESSE AIN CYCLISME 3'43"
  23. Axel HABERT TEAM ATRIA-MONTLUÇON CYCLISME 3'43"
  24. Aubin VASSEUR PARIS CYCLISTE OLYMPIQUE 3'43"
  25. Axel SALVADORI VC VILLEFRANCHE BEAUJOLAIS 3'43"
  26. Tyler TOMKINSON MARTIGUES SC-PAYDEN&RYGEL 3'43"
  27. Mattéo GAUDEL AC BISONTINE 3'43"
  28. Adam SMITH CC ÉTUPES 3'43"
  29. Dean HARVEY MARTIGUES SC-PAYDEN&RYGEL 3'43"
  30. Léandre HUCK VC ROUEN 76 3'48"

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