Team Ireland gives it their all in the Elite Men’s Road Race
Media Release 12/09/2021
The final day of racing at the European Road got underway today with the Elite Men’s Road Race.
A gruelling 179.2 kilometre race faced the riders which included a testing 73 kilometre loop in the Valle dei Laghi which led the riders back to Piazza Duomo in Trento for a final 8 laps of the 13.2 kilometre circuit.
Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen, Conn McDunphy and Matt Teggart were among a group of riders who were forced out of the race as they arrived back into Trento.
The Elite Men’s race, similar to all the road races at this year’s European Road Championships saw a huge rate of attrition. This was largely due to the circuit being short and riders being forced to withdraw from the race when they lost contact with the main bunch.
Sonny Colbrelli of Italy was crowned European Champion beating Remco Evenepoel of Belgium in a sprint for the finish. Benoit Cosnefroy of France claimed the bronze medal comfortably, 1:30 down.
Despite some obvious disappointment after the race today, there are a lot of positives to take from it. Full interviews with the riders are available below.
This has been a great opportunity for all of Team Ireland one which they will all be able to build on going forward.
Ryan Mullen Interview
Conn McDunphy Interview
Matt Teggart Interview
Challenging circuit puts riders to the test at European Road Championships
Media Release 11/09/2021
Just under 150 riders in the U23 Men’s category rolled out of Piazza Duomo in Trento this morning to start their 10 laps of the testing 13.2 kilometre circuit. A circuit that proved challenging for riders yesterday, similarly tested the U23 Men and Elite Women today.
The U23 Men’s Road Race team comprised of Kevin McCambridge, Aaron Wade, Dillon Corkery, Adam Ward, Devin Shortt and Matthew Devins.
The gruelling 133.3 kilometre race came to a close with 67 out of the starting 148 riders making it across the finish line. Among the group of finishers was Ireland’s Dillion Corkery coming home in a group of six, 1:31 down placing 29th. Teammate Adam Ward, finished in the largest group of riders, six minutes down, putting him in 53rd position.
Belgium rider Thibau Nys took gold ahead of Filippo Baroncini (Italy) and Juan Ayuso (Spain).
Commenting on the race, Corkery said:
“The course was always going to be hard and especially on the climb. There was a climb more or less straight after the finish, it was about 3km, 3 and a half kilometres at 5% and it was always going to be hard on the climb and I think that’s kind of what put riders out the back. But if you were well positioned it wasn’t all that hard.“
It has been a positive experience overall for Corkery and for all of Team Ireland, one which they can learn from and build on.
“It’s nice to know that I’m at the level I suppose, you know so I can take a positive from what it’s been.” Corkery added.
Megan Armitage and Ellen McDermott represented Ireland in the Elite Women’s Road Race this afternoon. The savage heat added to the already challenging circuit which saw just 32 of the 102 starters finish the 107.2 kilometre race. Armitage and McDermott were among the high number of riders who battled hard but were forced to withdraw when they lost contact with the bunch.
Ellen Van Dijk of the Netherlands took gold after she broke away from the group. Liane Lippert (Germany) claimed silver ahead of Rasa Leleivyte (Lituania) 1:18 down.
All eyes will now turn to the Elite Men’s Road Race tomorrow, Sunday 12th. Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen, Conn McDunphy and Matt Teggart will fly the flag for Ireland in the final day of the European Road Championships.
Starting at 11:30am, the Elite Men will take on an opening 73km loop in the Valle dei Laghi which leads back to Piazza Duomo in Trento where the riders will complete 8 laps of the 13.2 kilometre circuit.
A tough day for Team Ireland in the Time Trials at the European Road Championships
Media Release 11/09/2021
Ryan Mullen and reigning Time Trial National Champion Conn McDunphy represented Ireland in the Elite Men’s Time Trial today at the UEC European Road Championships. It was a tough day for Team Ireland with headwinds impacting the riders.
McDunphy was first to race for Ireland taking to the start line for the 22.4 kilometre Time Trial in the Elite Men’s category. McDunphy crossed the line in a time of 27:11.55, averaging 49.43kph. Mullen went faster again, making it through the course in a time of 26:39.36, averaging 50.42kph to finish in 18th position.
The European Title was won by Stefan KÜng of Switzerland, who completed the course in a time of 24:29.85 averaging an impressive 54.86kph. Filippo Ganna of Italy claimed the silver medal clocking a time of 24:37.55 recording an average speed of 54.58kph. The bronze medal was won by Belgium rider Remco Evenepoel.
Speaking after the Time Trial, McDunphy said:
“It was hard. I started off a bit too optimistic and I was good until the turn and then I struggled a little bit. There was headwind out and I knew I had to push but I think I might’ve pushed it a bit too hard. I did have to get back on top of it but I think there was like two of three K there where I kind of lost time, but sure look you live and learn.”
Mullen and McDunphy will be joined on the Irish team by Sam Bennett for the 179.2 kilometre Road Race on Sunday. McDunphy has described the Road Race as “savage”. He added:
“The road race is going to be something else, very hilly, very hard so we’ll just have to play it by ear. It’s going to be more of an elimination really. Obviously with the top guys, best in the world are here so we’ll have to see, see what the team plan is and go from there.”
Commenting on his performance in the Time Trial, Mullen said:
“It definitely wasn’t one of my better performances today. Some days you have a good day and some days you have a bad day and today was an exceptionally bad day as it turns out. I just kind of blew up in the headwinds sections after about ten minutes and I couldn’t quite get back on top of the gate.”
Mullen aims to put today’s performance behind him and is looking forward to the Road Race.
“I’m looking forward to going into the road race. I should hopefully go a bit better than that coming off the block of racing I have been doing. But yah, I’m going to put today behind me and crack on to the road race,” he added.
Aaron Wade and Kevin McCambridge were also in action today for Ireland competing in the U23 Men’s category. Both riders put in a strong performance against a field of 49 riders. Kevin McCambridge went around the course in a time of 27:32.10 putting him in 26th position. Aaron Wade completed the course in a time of 28:46.08, placing 38th overall.
First up tomorrow morning, Friday 10th is the Junior Men’s Road Race where a team six riders will represent Ireland. Startng at 8am, the riders will complete eight laps of the 13.2 kilometre Trento circuit, totalling 107.2 kilometres. The Junior Men’s team includes Darren Rafferty, Conal Scully, Ronan O’Connor, Adam Gilsenan, Dean Harvey, Ruairí Byrne.
The Junior Women’s Road Race will commence at 12:50pm where sole Irish rider, Aoife O’Brien will compete over five laps, 67.6km. A team of three U23 riders will compete in the Women’s Road Race where they will face six laps of the Trento circuit starting at 3:30pm.
U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial Results - http://mysdam.simply-webspace.it/mtb/Trento2021/cis/pdf/ttelm.pdf
Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial Results - http://mysdam.simply-webspace.it/mtb/Trento2021/cis/pdf/ttelm.pdf
Rafferty narrowly misses out on medal at European Road Championships
Media Release 08.09.2021
The Junior rider finished in 4th place in the Time Trial
Darren Rafferty powered through a tough 22.4 kilometre Time Trial course finishing 4th in a time of 27:09:09, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal by just over two seconds.
Two riders, Conal Scully and Darren Rafferty represented Ireland in the Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial at the European Road Championships in Trento earlier today.
Scully was first to take on the Time Trial course, averaging 47.39kph to finish in a time of 28:21.49, putting him in 21st place. Rafferty went even faster averaging 49.50 kph finishing 42.48 behind the gold medallist to finish in 4th position.
The race against the clock was won by Alec Segaert of Belgium in a blistering time of 26:26:61, averaging 50.83kph. Fellow Belgium teammate Cian Uijtdebroeke claimed the silver medal in a time of 26:31:70. French rider Eddy Le Huitouze finished in 27:06:99 to claim the bronze medal ahead of Rafferty.
Speaking after the event, Rafferty said:
“I’m super pleased with 4th at the Euros but obviously a touch disappointed to be so close to a medal but overall it went really well and I couldn’t really expect much better.”
Despite some nerves, Rafferty was confident leading into the Time Trial and believed he had prepared as best he could with the team, he said:
“I had prepared as best as possible in the lead up and the setup with the team had been great so I was as confident as I could be I think with some usual nerves before the race.”
Scully and Rafferty will be joined by Ronan O’Connor, Adam Gilsenan, Dean Harvey and Ruairi Byrne for the 107.2 kilometre Junior Men’s Road Race on Friday morning.
“I’m looking forward to the road race on Friday morning. The course seems to suit well but a lot can happen in the road race so I will just wait and see how it plays out.” Rafferty added.
Ryan Mullen and reigning Time Trial National Champion Conn McDunphy will ride the 22.4 kilometre Time Trial on Thursday, 9th September.
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Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial – Results
Irish Cycling Team - UEC European Road Championships, Trento, Italy. (8th - 12th September)
Elite Men’s Road Race: Sam Bennett, Ryan Mullen, Conn McDunphy, Matthew Taggart. Elite Men’s Time Trial: Ryan Mullen, Conn McDunphy. Elite Women’s Road Race: Megan Armitage, Ellen McDermott. U23 Men’s Road Race: Kevin McCambridge, Aaron Wade, Dillon Corkery, Adam Ward, Devin Shortt, Matthew Devins. U23 Men’s Time Trial: Kevin McCambridge, Aaron Wade. U23 Women’s Road Race: Caoimhe O’Brien, Darcey Harkness, Lucy O’Donnell. Junior Men’s Road Race: Darren Rafferty, Conal Scully, Ronan O’Connor, Adam Gilsenan, Dean Harvey, Ruairí Byrne. Junior Men’s Time Trial: Darren Rafferty, Conal Scully. Junior Women’s Road Race: Aoife O’Brien.
Schedule
Thursday 9th
8.15am U23 Women Individual Time Trial
9.45am Elite Women Individual Time Trial
1.15pm U23 Men Individual Time Trial
3.00pm Elite Men Individual Time Trial
Friday 10th
8.00am Junior Men Road Race
12.50pm Junior Women Road Race
3.30pm U23 Women Road Race
Saturday 11th
8.00am U23 Men Road Race
1.15pm Elite Women Road Race
