Having been knocking on the door at home, Cathal Clarke's first win of the season came on the Belgian scene this weekend (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
Just one of a number of strong young Irish riders to enjoy support from the Belgian Project, Cathal Clarke of Newry Wheelers has used the improved condition brought about by his stint abroad to take a great victory in Belgium.
The Newry Wheelers first year junior proved strongest of 70 starters in a 100km kermesse – circuit race – in the village of St Jan near Ieper.
He also demonstrated race craft well beyond his years in getting one over on some of the top junior teams in Belgium, a number of whom had several riders in the winning escape that young Clarke forged his way into before pouncing for the win.
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“I saw there was a bike path on my right just as the group was swinging left coming to the finish and I just thought ‘it’s now or never’,” he said.
“I went for it as hard as I could up onto the bike path; there was a section of cobbles between the road and the path so I knew that would put them off chasing me down straight away.”
Clarke combined that crafty bit of riding with strong legs and managed to pull out a small gap as he hit for home flat out.
“I was dying coming to the line; it was an uphill finish. But I held on and I got it by about a bike length, lucky enough.”
Clarke leads a breakaway as it tries to shake off the bunch. The Belgian scene is proving ideal for progressing young Irish riders who want to go abroad for stints of racing.
Having been knocking on the door on the home scene all season, it was his first win of the year and comes just as he is about to travel home again after a month on the Continent.
While victory had eluded him until Saturday, Clarke had been making very strong progress in Belgium; hitting the top 10 in seven races he had ridden.
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And in Saturday’s contest he beat off the challenge of some very strong teams, including Avia, DJ Matic, and Davo Lotto; all of whom had several men in the breakaway.
He said while scoring a victory in Europe was the fulfilment of a personal goal this year, a lot of people have helped his cycling career so far and he was delighted to repay their faith in him in some way.
“My dad in particular has put in a lot of hard work and I hope he knows I really appreciate it,” said Clarke, brother of Irish U23 international Cormac Clarke.
Clarke with the victor's flowers doing his post-race interview after the 100km kermesse in St Jan on Saturday.
He added those behind the Belgian Project – which supports Irish riders in travelling to Belgium to gain vital international race experience – had gone beyond the call of duty to help him and other Irish riders; singling out Dany Blondeel, Rik Masil and Sabien Himpe for special mention.
Blondeel, a Belgian national living in the North, has helped place riders with guest parents while in Belgium and has found teams for other Irish riders spending longer periods abroad; with Masil and Himpe throwing their home open as guest parents for young Irish talent.
“I’ve been here for a month now and it’s been amazing; without all of these people I couldn’t do it,” said Clarke.
On Saturday, the field faced nine laps of a circuit, with a 10-rider move going clear on the opening lap, forcing a fast chase after them.
Clarke let the bigger teams do the early riding and on the fifth lap he was among a five-man chase group to get clear. It would swell to 10 but it was not until the final lap that they caught the leaders.
And with about 250 metres remaining, Clarke had moved himself into the top 10. Sensing a slight stall, he made his move for victory; hitting the afterburners to the line.
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