After racking up top-four places on each of the previous stages, the Irish-sponsored An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team hit the jackpot this afternoon when it won the final stage of the Etoile de Bessèges in France.

Belgian sprinter Niko Eeckhout followed up on earlier placings of second, third and fourth when he hit the line first, beating Valentin Iglinsky (Astana) and Hans Dekkers (Landbouwkrediet) plus the rest of the peloton.

Another Belgian on the team, Pieter Ghyllebert, finished an excellent third overall.

Overnight race leader Arnaud Molmy (Roubaix Lille Metropole) was one of many non-starters today, due to a bout of stomach problems that hit many of the teams. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) thus moved into the lead and successfully defending that position, winning the 2.1-ranked race. Ghyllebert was just four seconds back, and one second off Matthieu Ladagnous (Française Des Jeux)’s runner-up slot.

Irish riders Connor McConvey and Paídi O’Brien both finished in the main bunch. The race marked McConvey’s second outing with his new team and the former mountainbike specialist showed great promise. He ended the 2.1-ranked race 48th overall, just ten seconds back. He was also sixth in the best young rider classification. O’Brien was 84th.

“It’s been a fantastic week for the team,” said team manager Kurt Bogaerts. “We have a lot of new faces, and it’s great to see everyone work so well together, and show such strong form so early in the season. It’s a great boost for us, and we now have ten days to regroup before our next challenge in the Algarve”

The team immediately set out to drive 1000 kilometres back to their base in Belgium in time for the team launch on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, like many others, Irish national champion Nicolas Roche also decided not to sign on this morning due to illness. He is expected to recover in time for next week’s Tour of the Mediterranean.


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Etoile de Bessèges, France (2.1, February 3- 7) :

February 7, Stage 5: Grand Prix de Bessèges:

1, Niko Eeckhout (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) 145 kilometres in 3 hours 15 mins 7 secs
2, Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana)
3, Hans Dekkers (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago)
4, Tom Veelers (Skil-Shimano)
5, Steven Caethoven (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago)
6, Johan Mombaerts (Big Mat-Auber 93) all same time

Other:

21, Pieter Ghyllebert (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
44, Connor McConvey (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
86, Paidi O'Brien (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) each same time
97, Maxim De Busschere (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 1 min 28 secs

DNS : Nicolas Roche (Ag2R La Mondiale)
DNS: Mark McNally (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
DNF: Stijn Minne (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)

General Classification :

1, Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) 17 hours 10 mins 27 secs
2, Matthieu Ladagnous (Française Des Jeux) at 3 secs
3, Pieter Ghyllebert (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 4 secs
4, Thomas De Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator) same time
5, Julien Loubet (Ag2R La Mondiale) at 5 secs
6, Arnaud Gerard (Française Des Jeux) at 6 secs

Other :

48, Connor McConvey (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 10 secs
67, Niko Eeckhout (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 20 mins 21 secs
71, Fabien Bacquet (Big Mat-Auber 93) at 20 mins 41 secs
84, Paidi O'Brien (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) same time
95, Maxim De Busschere (An Post - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 37 mins 19 secs

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