Irish rider Marc Heaney has just taken his first foreign victory, and it's a big one. He's taken the final stage of a UCI-rank stage race against some very good opposition. Heaney was best at the end of stage 5 of the Tour of Albania today.
Marc Heaney wins stage 5 Tour of Albania UCI 2.2
Having foregone a ride in the Rás to compete in the Tour of Albania, Marc Heaney's decision has been repaid with a stage win.
Riding for Belgian squad ASFRA Racing, Heaney today won the final stage of the UCI 2.2 ranked race.
The five-day has the same UCI ranking as the Rás. Today's win was Heaney's first victory on foreign soil and also his first in a UCI-ranked race.
The stage took the riders 159.9km from Sarandë to Fier, with plenty of climbing along the way.
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Heaney, who has ridden for the Irish team at the U23 Nations Cup this season, had been ill earlier in the week.
However, he decided he would start again this morning and was handsomely rewarded.
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After getting over the climbs and being part of the reduced peloton as hurtled in to the finish, he was well place from about 800 metres to go.
And as the finish line neared he hit the afterburners and took the sprint for his biggest win to date.
The 20-year-old had recently returned to Ireland for a racing trip; taking 2nd on a stage at the Tour of Ulster.
Marc Heaney in good form
While ill in Albania in recent days before today’s win, Heaney has already shown some promising form this season.
He made the Irish team for the ZLM Tour in Holland last month and rode very well.
Heaney was in the large front group going for victory on a day when the race split to pieces.
Matteo Moschetti (Italy) proved fastest in the sprint from the 64-man group. Heaney was 41st on the day.
More to follow.
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