Michael O'Loughlin best of Irish U23s at European Champs | Sticky Bottle

*Ben Healy in the heat of action during the U23 road race at the European Championships in Alkmaar, the Netherlands (Photo: Shea Gribbon)*

Michael O’Loughlin
was best of the Irish U23 team at the European Championships today, finished
the road race in 20th place in the same time as the winner.

Ben Healy was
also in the same group of 37 riders who arrived at the finish to battle for the
medals after the 138km race in Alkmaar.

The title was won
by 21-year-old Italian Alberto Dainese who has just signed for Team Sunweb for
the next two years.

After just over
three hours of racing he got the verdict over Dane Niklas Larsen and Estonia Rait Ärm.

As well as O’Loughlin
in 20th and Healy placing 25th, Irish rider Conn McDunphy also finished; in 49th
place at 8:04 on a day when just 52 riders finished.

On the very tight
circuit a number of crashes played a significant role in splitting the race and
ensuring many riders abandoned; Ireland’s Dillon Corkery, Marc Heaney and
Dillon Corkery among them.

*Michael O'Loughlin was best of the Irish, finishing in the same time was the winner (Photo: Shea Gribbon)*

*Conn McDunphy was one of three Irish finishers in the U23 race today (Photo: Shea Gribbon)*

*Marc Heaney looking focused in the group in the green of Ireland (Photo: Shea Gribbon)*

As has been the
case with most of the other races so far at the championships, a number of
crashes combined with speed – and breezy and wet conditions today –
caused splits early.

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After just 20km
there were seven groups on the road; Ireland placing O’Loughlin, Healy, Corkery
and McDunphy in the front group.

However, a crash
then split that front group, with Healy the only one of the Irish four to retain his place with the leaders.

While O’Loughlin
was distanced, he found himself in a small chasing group about 20 seconds back
and managed to get back on after a great effort.

Corkery and
McDunphy spent a lot of time just off the back of that front group but
never made it to the front of the race again.

Darragh O’Mahony
and Marc Heaney found themselves further back the road; their race hampered
significantly after being caught behind spills on the greasy surface.

Up front in the closing stages Alexander Konychev of Italy, the son of former top Russian pro rider Dimitri Konychev, pressed on solo from a breakaway in a bid for glory.

However, he was caught very close to the finish giving way to a sprint for the medals from the 37-strong front group.