Philip Lavery is in great form in France, taking his third win of the season today for his AC Bisontine team and his first yellow jersey of the year
National U3 champion, Philip Lavery’s decision to forego a ride in the An Post Rás in favour of taking in the Tour de Franche-Comté in eastern France has paid off in spades, as he romped home to take the opening stage in the race today and the first yellow jersey.
Lavery’s victory is his third of the season in colours of his new AC Bisontine team, the most recent coming just last Sunday in the Le Souvenir Jean Lacroix, a 123km race in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.
Today, the 22-year-old escaped in a seven man move during the 162.5km stage from Bermont to Faucogney-et-la-Mer. The breakaway established itself ahead of the field late in the day, with Lavery and Frederik Backaert (SCF-Omega Pharma-Quick Step) just slightly distancing the other five in the sprint for the line.
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The Irish man used his fast kick to get the better of the others and ran out a clear and delighted winner. Lavery had studied the finish and used a turn in the last 400 metres to position himself behind Backaert and coming off his wheel with 100 metres remaining.
Given the form he has shown of late and what was a great win today in a tough stage, where rain and cool conditions were the order of the day, his team will likely have no problems rallying around and riding to try to defend his lead.
With 200km tomorrow and some good teams in the race, defending the lead will be a tough proposition, thought Lavery is clearly in very good form. The riders face 196,3km tomorrow, followed by a split stage on Saturday - 91.9km and 73,8km - with the final stage of 180km on Sunday.
May 16th- 19th: Tour de Franche-Comté (National Elite)
Stage 1: Bermont to Faucogney-et-la-Mer (162.5km)
1 LAVERY Philip 3h 57' 58''
2 BACKAERT FREDERIK OME
3 GUYOT YANN ADT
4 BRUN XAVIER STE
5 GUAY JULIEN SOJ
6 GORICHON ANTOINE DIJ
7 LE BOULCH DIMITRI BIG
8 ZAHNER SIMON EKZ 00:56
9 LAUBER EDOUARD ETU 00:56
10 * GERTS FLORIS CRO 01:37
11 RENAULT MAXIME SOJ 01:37
12 * COMBAUD ROMAIN ADT 01:37
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13 MANDRI RENE STE 01:37
14 BOUTEILLE THOMAS ETU 01:37
15 * ATKINS JOSH OME 01:37
16 DELAROZIERE Mathieu AIX 01:37
17 * GHISTELINCK PACO OME 01:37
18 * DASSONVILLE FLAVIEN BIG 01:37
19 * MIRA ANTHONY SOJ 01:37
20 BONNET GUILLAUME STE 01:37
21 * YATES ADAM ETU 01:37
22 BARBAS YOANN ADT 01:37
23 * SCHNYDER LARS MAN 01:37
24 * HOLBACH FABIAN RHE 01:37
25 * JAMET LOIC SOJ 01:37
26 * SATRE BUISSON MICKA HAG 01:37
27 * ESTEVES Paul-Victor BES 01:37
28 PLOUHINEC SAMUEL PEL 01:37
29 TAPELLA RAPHAEL AIX 01:37
30 ASJES JELMER CRO 01:37
(116 starters)
