Play Townsend puts in huge effort but Alaphilippe holds onto title
World Champion Julian Alaphilippe of France defended his UCI Road World Championship title in style yesterday, after launching a solo attack with 17 kilometres to go.
The Frenchman was among the favourites for victory and the 29-year-old did not disappoint as he capped an impressive ride by sprinting away in the closing stages to complete the 268-kilometre race from Antwerp to Leuven in a time of five hours, 56 minutes and 34 seconds.
He finished 32 seconds ahead of a four-man chasing group, which saw Dylan Van Baarle of Holland ultimately pipping Denmark’s Michael Valgren Hundahl, Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven and Neilson Powless of the United States to silver.
Rory Townsend put in a brilliant ride for Ireland, spending the majority of his race in the eight-man breakaway, and was aggressive in the lead group, even when they were reeled in by the chasing pack with about 130 kilometres to go.
Townsend remained in contention until a cramp forced him off his bike and he could not continue.
Over the arduous 268.7km course, the peloton reduced significantly, with only 68 riders completing the course out of 195 that started.
Eddie Dunbar and Ryan Mullen also rode well but were among the high number of riders who did not finish.
Speaking after the race, Dunbar said: “It was a very hard race. I hadn’t raced since the Olympics because I got Covid so I actually wasn’t going to race for the rest of the year. Training went well over the last few weeks but today I did suffer.”
Most Watched
Play 
Play 
Play 
Play 
Play Latest Cycling
- Sam Bennett withdraws from Irish team for UCI Road World Championships
- Sam Bennett to return for Deceuninck for first time since boss's criticism
- 'I loved camogie, but cycling really allowed me get out what you put in' - Mia Griffin is ready for Rás
- Sam Bennett to make comeback with Ireland at European Road Championships
- Eve McCrystal: ‘On the last lap, I was hanging on for dear life’
Most Read
- Nicholas Roche's Tour de France diary: 'Near the summit finish, my ego took a massive hit from a spectator'
- 'We feel it is wiser for him to stop racing' - Reigning champion Egan Bernal withdrawn from Tour de France
- 'I needed a f****** nuclear meltdown, and I got it' - Lance Armstrong remains defiant in new documentary
- Townsend puts in huge effort but Alaphilippe holds onto title
- Paul Kimmage Opinion The joy, the despair and the doping - a picture paints a thousand words
Latest
- Husband’s alleged murder of wife was the ultimate in ‘toxic masculinity’ prosecution tells court
- ‘When I realised it was Keisha, I dropped to my knees’ – dog owner’s distress after ‘tortured’ pet found dumped in canal
- Inner City Helping Homeless turns to High Court to help decide its future after weeks of turmoil
- Major fire breaks out at Glenisk plant in Offaly
- ‘It’s been a wonderful business’ – gentleman John closes iconic corner shop to retire after 50 years