Cal Tutty (Tarrants Skoda Cycling Munster) and Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B Victorious) have both put in very strong performances on the final day of action at the Penn Ar Bed-Pays d’Iroise (2.1).
Tutty, already an Irish international in his first season as a junior last year, took off from the bunch today in the closing stages and, along with a small group of others, he was not see again.
Dunwoody, who won two of the three stages and overall last year, was hoping to pounce again for a victory today. And though that did not work out for him, he came very close.
After proving his sprint in some big races this season - including 2nd on the opening stage yesterday and 2nd in Kuurne-Brussel - Kuurne Juniors (1.1) in February - he put on a fine TT display on stage 2 this morning.
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As was the case on the opening stage, he finished 2nd in the 7.5km race against the clock in Plougonvelin this morning. Dunwoody was beaten to victory by Eliott Boulet (CC Plancoët), who was six seconds ahead of the Irish teenager, with Dutch rider Michiel Mouris (Westland Wil Vooruit / WPGA) 3rd at 12 seconds.
That result put Boulet into the yellow jersey, some six seconds up on Dunwoody going into the afternoon road stage.
In that morning test, Tutty was best of the Munster riders - all of whom rode the TT on their road bikes - placing 38th at 56 seconds. Willem O'Connor was 65th at 1:10, Eoghan Lattimore, nursing stage 1 crash injuries, was 80th at 1:16, Michael Collins was 116th at 1:33 and Rory Condon was 136th at 2:01.
With Dunwoody the defending champion, and just six seconds off yellow, it was all to play for on this afternoon's road stage; some 97.7km from Pointe St. Mathieu to Plouzané.
Tutty was clearly feeling good as he went on the attack with about 30km completed - in a group fighting for the climbers' points. And though they were soon caught, it was a promising sign of things to come for the Waterford rider.
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With seven short climbs - between 400m and 1.1km, the steepest of which was just over 9 per cent - to contest, it looked like aggressive racing was in store. However, it wasn't until the final hour of racing that the winning move stuck, when about 10 riders broke clear nearing the finishing circuit.
As the race move onto that 8km undulating circuit, for three laps, the breakaway had about one minute, with the Munster riders and Dunwoody having missed the boat.
However, Tutty went on attack, on a short ascent, just as the final lap was starting. That move deep into the race forced a selection, with a five-man group forming around him and setting off in pursuit of the breakaway.
The chasers managed to catch some of the breakaway men, though the others stayed clear to fight for the stage victory. That was taken by Israeli rider Roei Edinger (VZW WP de Molenspurters Meulebeke) from Victor Herbreteau (UC Cholet 49) and Charly Raby (CREF Pays de la Loire); the first five riders finishing on the same time.
Tutty claimed 11th place after finishing in a three-rider group at 27 seconds; a strong result in a UCI-ranked race where he was very well supported by his team mates on the final stage.
Dunwoody was back in what remained of the bunch, also containing race leader Boulet, some 58 seconds down on the leader. That peloton numbered just 47 riders as the field split to pieces, and there were a large number of non finishers after riders were pulled out on the finishing circuits.
Also in the much reduced bunch with Dunwoody were Munster's O'Connor and Collins; tidy performances by those riders on a hard day out racing against a large international field.
The race result saw the general classification rearranged, with Dunwoody slipped from 2nd this morning at six seconds to 8th overall - still a strong result. He was some 29 seconds down on overall winner Paul Thierry (Olympic Cycliste Locminé), who was 7th in the morning TT and 6th in this afternoon's road stage.
For his efforts, Tutty moved up the general classification to a final position of 19th, at 48 seconds. O'Connor was 46th at 1:33 - from 172 starters - while Collins was 67th at 1:56.
