Philip Lavery makes podium for Cofidis; in the mix for World Champs Irish elite team

Philip Lavery, riding in the colours of Cofidis, on his way to third place in the GP Lucien Van Impe Pro Kermesse in Belgium today (Photo: Lydia Van Der Meerssche)

Philip Lavery has continued his good form with the French pro team Cofidis by taking his first podium finish since his stagiaire with the squad started on August 1st.

Riding the GP Lucian Van Imp in Erpe-Mere in Belgium today, Thursday, the Dubliner put in a really strong performance to take third place in the pro kermesse which was won by track six-day star turn Iljo Keisse of Omega Pharma-Quickstep.

Thomas Moses of UK squad Team Raleigh was second; just one of a number of strong professionals from the UK scene who have travelled to Belgium for more racing than Britain has to offer in the run up to the Tour of Britain.

Lavery did very well to make the podium, which clearly demonstrates he is not intimidated by the racing as he has stepped up to Pro Continental level in his bid to secure a contract with Cofidis next year.

The 23-year-old has already ridden the five-stage Vuelta a Burgos, a UCI 2.HC race in Spain won by Tour de France king of the mountains Nairo Quintana of Movistar.

The Irishman did very well in that event, only losing small amounts of time on the first stages as the peloton split on very late climbs or when the stages finished atop those small steep ascents.

He was in the bunch sprinting for first on the penultimate stage and finished 26th. On the final stage, the queen stage of the race featuring a brutal summit finish won by Quintana, Lavery battled very well in big company.

With seven categorised climbs to negotiate, including the climb to the summit finish at Lagunas de Neila after 170km, Lavery came home a respectable 15:21 down on Quintana.

The stage winner also took overall honours, with Lavery finishing 64th of the 94 finishers in the general standings; a very decent ride in a race that was a massive step up from anything he had ridden before.

While today's race was flat and differs very much from the hillier World Road Race Championships course in Florence, Italy, next month; Lavery's form and his success in securing a trial with Cofidis until the end of the year must put him in the mix for selection.

With Ireland having qualified a four-man team, Dan Martin, Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan are certain to be picked barring injury. That leaves one berth and a number of riders hoping to fill it.

Lavery has won a string of races for his French club AC Bisontine to date this season and by the time the Worlds come around he will have been with Cofidis for almost two months.

With further stage races in the pipeline for him before the Worlds, his preparation would certainly be at a level expected of anyone hoping to ride the elite race in support of potential winner Dan Martin.