Sam Bennett (An Post Sean Kelly Team)
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Ireland’s Sam Bennett pulled out a very impressive result in today’s under 23 road race at the European championships, netting a top ten finish in the 172 kilometre event in Zeeland, the Netherlands.
Despite expending energy in an early break and then being delayed by mechanical issues on the penultimate lap, the Carrick on Suir rider raced in seventh. He was part of a 49 man bunch which finished eleven seconds behind the winner Jan Tratnik (Slovenia) and ten behind Andzs Flaksis (Latvia).
Aaron Buggle was next best of the Irish in in 54th while Sean Downey, who helped Bennett regain the bunch after being delayed, finished 76th. They were 18 and 32 seconds behind the winner, with Connor Dunne 37 minutes back in 85th.
Earlier in the day, Lauren Gourlay was listed as a non finisher in the junior women’s road race. Great Britain’s world champion Lucy Garner (Great Britain) won a big sprint to the line, edging out Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Italy) and Kirsten Coppens (Netherlands).
On Saturday, Cormac Clarke, Jack Sadler, Ryan Mullen and Thomas Fallon finished in the main bunch in the junior road race. Clarke was best in 36th, Sadler 50th, Mullen 67th and Fallon 80th. Sean Hahessy placed 110th.
Alexander Wachter (Austria) hit the line one second ahead of Anthony Turgis (France), Davide Ballerini (Italy) and the rest of the bunch, winning the race.
Meanwhile Belgium’s Evelyn Arys (Belgium) triumphed in the 129 kilometre women’s under 23 road race the same day, with Barbara Guarischi (Italy) and Kim De Baat (Netherlands) the other medallists.
Mary Costello, Lauren Creamer and Fiona Guihen were part of a large group of riders instructed to stop when they lost time on the bunch.
Bennett’s ride today will be a considerable confidence booster after a season which has brought some good results but also some frustrations.
European road race championships, Zeeland, the Netherlands.
Under 23 road race:
1, Jan Tratnik (Slovenia) 172 kilometres in 3 hours 52 mins 30 secs
2, Andzs Flaksis (Latvia) at 1 sec
3, Wouter Wippert (Netherlands) at 11 sec
4, Christian Bertilsson (Sweden)
5, Nicola Ruffoni (Italy)
6, Roy Jans (Belgium) all same time
Irish:
7, Sam Bennett, same time
54, Aarron Buggle, at 18 secs
76, Sean Downey, at 32 secs
85, Connor Dunne, at 37 secs
DNF: Philip Lavery, Felix English, Jack Wilson
Junior women’s road race:
1, Lucy Garner (Great Britain) 80 kilometres in 2 hours 7 mins 5 secs
2, Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Italy)
3, Kirsten Coppens (Netherlands)
4, Ashlynn Van Baarle (Netherlands)
5, Lotte Kopecky (Belgium)
6, Kaat Vandermeulen (Belgium) all same time
Irish:
DNF: Lauren Gourlay
Junior men’s road race:
1, Alexander Wachter (Austria) 129 kilometres in 2 hours 59 mins 22 secs
2, Anthony Turgis (France) at 1 sec
3, Davide Ballerini (Italy)
4, Matej Mohoric (Slovenia)
5, Gasper Katrasnik (Slovenia)
6, Oliviero Troia (Italy) all same time
Ireland:
36, Cormac Clarke
50, Jack Sadler
67, Ryan Mullen
80, Thomas Fallon, all same time
110, Sean Hahessy, at 5 mins 2 secs
DNF: Dylan Foley
Under 23 women’s road race:
1, Evelyn Arys (Belgium) 129 kilometres in 3 hours 13 mins 43 secs
2, Barbara Guarischi (Italy)
3, Kim De Baat (Netherlands)
4, Valentina Scandolara (Italy)
5, Roxane Fournier (France)
6, Amy Pieters (Netherlands) all same time
Irish:
Did not finish: Mary Costello, Lauren Creamer, Fiona Guihen