Teggart steps up with big result on tough day in Normandie
Matt Teggart has put a difficult couple of weeks behind him and is coming out of the Tour de Normandie clearly in great condition. Above, Teggart second in line on the attack in Belgium the week before last in his first race back from injury (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
By Brian Canty
Matt Teggart has taken a superb result at the Tour de Normandie (UCI 2.2) in France this afternoon. He finished 9th on the penultimate stage of the race.
The An Post-ChainReaction rider was sprinting for fifth. Four riders just about managed to hold off the chasing pack after 166km of from Fleury-Sur-Orne to Ducey Lés Cherís.
Frenchman Damien Gaudin (Armée de Terre) was in that winning breakaway and took victory.
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For Teggart, still aged just 21 years, it’s a significant performance. It was his first top 10 in a professional race.
The fact just 40 riders contested the sprint he was in further underlines how hard the racing was.
He also finished 17th yesterday; not a sensational result but a strong indication, now confirmed, that he has coped very well with the demands of the past week.
Teggart is not long back from injury and the past week also confirms he has returned to full health.
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“It was the hilliest day so far with lots of short sharp hills all day,” he said.
“It was raced hard and there were big splits in the bunch from 30 kilometres in. The pace didn’t really let up all day.”
A break of four eventually went clear and stayed away despite strong chasing.
Teggart managed to position himself right towards the front when it mattered most. That allowed him be in the shake-up in the final.
Final suited the former Banbridge CC man
“We hit the final circuits which had a few hard kicks and they suited me well," he said. "They took the sting out of all the big sprinters that were left.
“We were six seconds off catching the break but they held on. And I was fourth in the sprint from a very depleted bunch.
“It’s a pity we didn't catch the break but I'm pleased with that. I'm not sure if it would be my best ever ride but it would have to be up there.
“I'm well pleased, especially after being sidelined with knee trouble just a few weeks ago. It's a positive sign for the rest of the season.”
With just one stage remaining in France, Anthony Delaplace (Fortuneo -Vital Concept) leads the race overall. Teggart is 57th at 12:24.
Sean McKenna was 50th today. He finished 32 seconds behind the group team mate Teggart was in. McKenna is 98th overall at 28:29.
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