Mark Downey has taken the best result of his road racing career in the U23 road race at the World Road Championships in Bergen, Norway, today.
Updated story:
Deadly Downey claims Ireland’s best ever U23 Worlds result
By Jimmy Lally
Having enjoyed runaway success on the track in the last 18 months, Mark Downey has shown he is world class on the road too with a top 10 in the World Championships today.
The Irishman was 9th in the 191km U23 category road race; his best ever result on the road.
He took 7th in the sprint for the bronze medal after Benoit Cosnefroy (France) and Lennard Kämna (Germany) took gold a silver.
Just three seconds later Michael Carbel Svendgaard (Denmark) won the sprint for 3rd place, with Oliver Wood (Great Britain) just behind.
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Looks like a top ten for @MarkDowney03 waiting on results pic.twitter.com/4DTmLUxX8I
— Cycling Ireland (@IreCyclingFed) September 22, 2017
Then came Vincenzo Albanese (Italy), Damien Touze (France), Max Kanter (Germany), Michal Paluta (Poland) and then Mark Downey. And rounding out the top 10 was Anders Skaarseth (Norway).
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In the battle for the gold medal, Kämna went for broke into attacking before the final climb of Salmon Hill.
He got a gap but eventual winner Cosnefroy then went after him. The French flew down the descent and caught the lone leader.
And while the two-man escape group was just off the front of a large group, they held off those chasers.
On the line it was Cosnefroy with beat Kämna in the sprint for the rainbow bands. What remained of the peloton was just seconds behind.
More to follow.
World Road Championships
Bergen, Norway
Fri, Sept 22: U23 Road Race (191km)
1 Benoit Cosnefroy (France) 4:48:23
2 Lennard Kämna (Germany)
3 Michael Carbel Svendgaard (Denmark) 0:00:03
4 Oliver Wood (Great Britain)
5 Vincenzo Albanese (Italy)
6 Damien Touze (France)
7 Max Kanter (Germany)
8 Michal Paluta (Poland)
9 Mark Downey (Ireland)
10 Anders Skaarseth (Norway)
