Britain’s Owain Doull continued his impressive form on the road with second place in a bunch sprint at La Cote Picarde in France on Wednesday.
The race was the second round of the 2015 UCI Under 23 Nations’ Cup, with 180.7 kilometres of racing from Le Crotoy to Mer de Bains in the Somme Department of northern France.
Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar animated the early part of the race, breaking away after around 40 kilometres and staying away until the race hit the finishing circuit, which riders tackled twice.
A number of attacks ensued on the circuit, which featured two climbs at Blengues and Bellevue. A final attack of Truls Engen Korseth (Norway), Felix Grosschartner (Austria) and Mads Pedersen (Denmark) was caught with three kilometres to go, setting up a bunch sprint.
Simone Consonni of Italy took the win, with Doull second ahead of Norway’s Daniel Hoelgaard.
The result came after a frustrating and chaotic Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften on Saturday that saw Doull suffer a puncture while lying in fourth place, just 10 kilometres from the finish, the Cardiff-born man finishing tenth.
2nd today at Cote Picardie. Had a good go on the finishing climbs but wasn't to be and ended in a sprint. Great support from the lads
— Owain Doull (@owaindoull) April 15, 2015
Germain Burton was the next Briton home, finishing 25th in the bunch on the same time as Doull. Chris Latham was 107th, four minutes and 38 seconds down on the winner.
Oliver Wood was 10 minutes and 34 seconds back in 116th with Jon Dibben coming in a place behind while Mark Stewart did not finish.
The 2015 UCI Under 23 Nations’ Cup continues on 17 April with the two-day ZLM Roompot Tour.
Result
1. Simone Consonni (Italy)
2. Owain Doull (Great Britain)
3. Daniel Hoelgaard (Norway)
4. Yoan Verardo (France)
5. Aksel Nommela (Estonia)
6. Mads Pedersen (Denmark)
7. Colin Joyce (USA)
8. Jan Dieteren (Germany)
9. Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz (Poland)
10. Lucas Gaday (Argentina)
