Irish duo out of medals despite brave display

PHILIP DEIGNAN and Nicolas Roche finished 17th and 22nd respectively after contesting 177km gruelling miles in the U23 World cycling road championship in Verona yesterday.

Kanstantsin Siutsou from Belarus timed his escape from his Italian breakaway companion Domenico Pozzovivo on the final climb and raced to victory by over one minute.

Thomas Dekker (Holland) collected his second silver medal of the championships when he caught the Italian and won the two-up sprint.

Deignan and Roche were well in contention for most of the race and the former produced a fierce attack with four laps to go when the field was still bunched together.

American Saul Raisin reeled in Deignan and eventual bronze medallist Mads Christensen (Denmark) also bridged the gap.

It was here Pozzovivo took his chance and counter-attacked at the top of the climb alongside Siutsou.

A number of others jumped across to form a breakaway group, as the Irish slipped almost two minutes behind.