Matt Teggart has shown his potential once again, putting in a fantastic ride on international duty with Team Ireland at the Kreiz-Breizh Elites (UCI 2.2) in France.
By Brian Canty
Matt Teggart has taken a superb result on the opening day of the Kreiz Breizh Elites race in France today, finishing 14th on the 194-kilometre stage.
The Irish international was in a group of nine sprinting for ninth 31 seconds behind a lead group of eight who contested the stage.
It was a cracking opener with barely any flat road all afternoon and the race became a real war of attrition.
An initial break of 13 went clear and pulled away while the frantic chase from behind split the bunch in two.
The break was eventually reeled in and next to go clear was Mark Dowling – also riding in the Irish team - with Peter Schulting (Park Hotel CT) but they too were absorbed.
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Dowling was clearly going well and he took top points at the third sprint of the day after around 80km.
They were back in the bunch before too long but another group went away as soon as they were brought back; the pattern all afternoon.
With 50 kilometres to go the situation saw 17 riders up the road – including Teggart - with the first half of the peloton around a minute back and the third group a further two minutes back.
Credit to the Irish as Sean McKenna and Darragh O’Mahony finished in the second group (2'40") with Mark Downey in the next group a few minutes further back.
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Team manager David McCann said it was a savagely tough day but he was proud of his team’s effort.
“It was very, very hard racing, 194 kilometres of non-stop hills,” he said.
“It was overcast but quite humid and warm and we were non-stop feeding.
“It was not exactly sunny but it sticky and there were boys dropping like flies at the end.”
He praised the effort of Teggart who is very well poised going into tomorrow.
“His group spent the last three laps 20 seconds behind the eight riders up ahead but they just couldn’t close the gap.
“But anyone from the two groups is a danger tomorrow where there’s an 80k stage in the morning and 100k in the evening.”
The Irish team has become a hit in France. Left to right: Hennebry, Dowling, O'Mahoney, Teggart, Downey and McKenna (Photo with thanks to Be-Celt.com)
Stage 1, July 30th: Calanhel – Plouray (194.8km)
1. Guillaume GABORIAUD (Occitane Cyclisme Formation)
2. Jeroen MEIJERS (Rabobank Development Team)
3. Clément MARY (Sojasun espoir-ACNC)
4. Jérémy BESCOND (Côtes d'Armor - Marie Morin)
5. Jarno GMELICH MEIJLING (Metec-TKH p/b Mantel)
6. Nicolas SESSLER (VL Technics-Experza-Abutriek)
7. Alexis GUÉRIN (GSC Blagnac Vélo Sport 31)
8. Rémy ROCHAS (Chambéry Cyclisme Formation)
9. Dennis BAKKER (Parkhotel Valkenburg CT)
10. Tom VERMEER (Baby-Dump Cycling Team)
11. Dries DE BONDT (Vérandas Willems)
12. Cees BOL (Rabobank Development Team)
13. Melvin RULLIÈRE (VC Rouen 76)
14. Matthew TEGGART (Irlande)
15. Jenthe BIERMANS (SEG Racing)
16. Jeroen PATTYN (VL Technics-Experza-Abutriek) à 34''
17. Peter LENDERINK (Rabobank Development Team) à 2'40''
18. Bram VAN BROEKHOVEN (VL Technics-Experza-Abutriek)
19. Joey VAN RHEE (Cycling Team Jo Piels)
20. Stylianos FARANTAKIS (Sojasun espoir-ACNC)
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