Rory Townsend hits top form in France after post-classics break | Video

Rory Townsend enjoyed a very strong spring campaign and now the former Irish champion is in flying form in France as his summer racing block begins (Photo: Tomas Sisk-PN-Cor Vos)

Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) has hit his best form of the season after taking a break from competition following a very busy spring riding the classics, which included a breakaway performance at Paris-Roubaix and also spending most of Tour of Flanders up the road.

The former Irish road race champion claimed his first podium result of the season at Boucles de la Mayenne (2.Pro) in France. That ride was a rare top TT result for Townsend, who is clearly able to use his sprinter's engine to produce a very strong effort against the clock over the prologue distance.

Townsend (29) took 3rd in that opening stage, of the four-stage race, which features a large number of World Tour teams. He finished behind winner Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ) and runner-up Benoît Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale).

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The Irish rider covered the 5.4km distance in an average speed of 47.078kmph, some six seconds down on stage victor Gruel in the TT in north western France.

After the prologue, Friday's stage 1 - some 166.6km from Saint-Berthevin to Juvigné - featured a finishing circuit with short sharp climbs. Pierre Latour (Team TotalEnergies) took a solo victory, four seconds up on a reduced peloton of 70 riders. Townsend was in that group, 44th on the stage, and retained his 3rd place overall.

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Yesterday's stage 2 - some 201km from Sainte-Suzanne to Bais with 3,000m of elevation gain - saw a lumpy route trim the main field to less than 50 riders. Aaron Gate (XDS Astana Team) claimed the stage in a two-up sprint from Latour.

Just five seconds after they crossed the line, Milan Menten (Lotto) won the gallop for 3rd place, with Townsend claiming 5th on the stage, though slipping to 6th overall as other riders close to him on GC took time bonuses.

Townsend is now just nine seconds down on new race leader, Gate, ahead of the final stage today, Sunday. It will take the riders 164km from Javron-les-Chapelles to Laval, with another final featuring multiple short climbs, though coming one after the other, which should suit Townsend.

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