Video: Philip Lavery nails impressive victory in South Africa
Philip Lavery sprinted home at the front of the breakaway group to take the stage win and yellow jersey (Photo: Robert Ward)
One of the best riders in Ireland, Philip Lavery has taken his talents abroad for the Tour of Good Hope and won the opening stage of the South African stage race.
The Dubliner, who has ridden for An Post-Chainreaction, Synergy Baku and Cofidis in the past, demolished the sprint from a breakaway that settled the stage.
He is riding the race for South African team Alfa Bodyworks.
Now aged 26 years and having announced plans to race in France this season, he took advantage of his trip to the south hemisphere to take what was his first win of the season.
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The stage, at 102km, was a short but furious affair and with riders from a Dimension Data selection in the race the standard was high.
Known for his attacking style and very fast sprint, Lavery made good use of both and once he got a clear run at the finish line at La Paris Estate near Paarl he made no mistake.
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He also takes the race leader’s jersey into tomorrow’s stage. It is a 26km TT and Lavery will not be in any doubt about the quality in the field when that race is completed.
“It is just my second race of the year, but I think it is a good indication of my form,” Lavery told the local media after his win.
“The attacks started relatively far out. When I went, I went hard and they weren’t able to come around me.”
He added the attacks began in the first 20km of the stage and never relented.
“Normally I don’t need to be in the breakaway, but I was at the front of the peloton when the final break formed,” he said of getting clear.
“There were four riders from Dimension Data and three from BCX riding for general classification and I was just able to stick with the attacks.”
And while the TT would not be his favoured event, he said he was planning to give it his best shot.
“This is what Alfa Bodyworks got me here for and I’m happy to repay their faith in me.”
The Tour of Good Hope is a five-day event with plenty of climbs to be contested in coming days.
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