Downey finishes best of Irish

Sean Downey finished best of the Irish yesterday in the U23 European Time Trial Championships in Goes, Holland; taking 11th place in the 78-rider field.

He was one minute 12 seconds down on winner Rasmus Christian Quade of Denmark in what was a good ride by the in-form An Post-Sean Kelly man.

Ireland’s Aaron Buggle posted a decent ride too, losing 2:07 to the winner and finishing in 42nd place. The third member of the Irish team to ride, Conor Dunne, was listed as a non-finisher.

The Irish riders were hoping to follow up on Ryan Mullen’s silver medal the day before in the junior time trial.

Mullen was edged into second place by a Norwegian rider over the 24.9km course. Corkman Dylan Foley was 63rd.

Mullen cited being based for three weeks with the Irish junior team in Heinkensand, Holland, right beside the championship time trial course as hugely beneficial to his preparation.

“I was able to really get to know the ins and outs of every corner of the technical circuit. I’d trained on the course every day when I wasn’t away racing.”

He said he had sat down pre race and carefully prepared a schedule with Irish junior team manager Frank O’Leary, setting out exactly how he would ride the 24.9km race.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Matthew Brammeier (Omega Pharma Quik Step) has been disqualified from the Tour of Utah after he fell foul of the judges for drafting or holding on to vehicles.