DOWNEY 11TH IN UNDER 23 TT AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

One day after Ryan Mullen took a superb silver medal in the junior time trial at the European championships in Zeeland, the Netherlands, Sean Downey has clocked up another strong result for the Irish squad when he finished just outside a top ten slot in the under 23 race against the clock.

The An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly rider was eleventh quickest over the 24 kilometre distance, covering it in 30 minutes 11 seconds. He was one minute 12 seconds off the winner Rasmus Quaade of Denmark, and 49 seconds behind silver medallist Bob Jungels (Luxembourg).

Ukrainian rider Oleksandr Golovash took bronze in a time 32 seconds behind Quaade and 40 ahead of Downey.

The latter’s compatriot Aarron Buggle was 42nd, two minutes seven seconds back, while Conor Dunne was a non-finisher after a mechanical issue.

Next up is tomorrow’s junior road race, where Mullen, Dylan Foley, Sean Hahessy, Cormac Clarke, Jack Sadler and Thomas Fallon will compete.

On Sunday Downey, Buggle and Dunne will ride the under 23 road race, as will Irish under 23 champion Philip Lavery, Sam Bennett, Felix English and Jack Wilson.

Lauren Gourlay will compete in the junior women’s event on the same day. The teams will attempt to continue the good showings posted by Mullen and Downey in the first two days of the championships.

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U23 European Championships TT (24km)

1, Rasmus Quaade (Denmark) 24 kilometres in 28 mins 59 secs
2, Bob Jungels (Luxembourg) at 23 secs
3, Oleksandr Golovash (Ukraine) at 32 secs
4, Anton Vorobyev (Russian Federation) at 38 secs
5, Marlen Zmorka (Ukraine) same time
6, Yoann Paillot (France) at 40 secs

Irish:

11, Sean Downey, at 1 min 12 secs
42, Aarron Buggle, at 2 mins 7 secs
DNF: Conor Dunne