Latest news with #ArnaudDeLie
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Rory Townsend shocks cycling world with stunning WorldTour victory in Hamburg
The 30-year-old held off elite sprinters Arnaud De Lie, Paul Magnier and Jasper Philipsen in a thrilling finale to land one of the biggest victories of his career IRISH road race champion Rory Townsend pulled off the ride of his life on Sunday in Germany. His stunned some of the world's best at the WorldTour-ranked ADAC Cyclassics in Hamburg. 2 Rory Townsend of Ireland and Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 28th Hamburg Cyclassics 2 The Irishman stormed to the biggest win of his career in the German city The 30-year-old lit things up from the gun, forcing his way into a four-man breakaway in the opening minutes of the gruelling 207km race. Townsend and two of his companions still clung to ten seconds with just one kilometre remaining. The pack closed fast but Townsend launched his sprint early and held on brilliantly. He hung on to cross the line metres clear of world-class finishers Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Paul Magnier (Soudal QuickStep) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Speaking after the incredible triumph, the Irishman admitted it was a surreal day in his life. He said: 'It's crazy. 'It's just pure disbelief, as you could see on my face when I crossed the line. I am still in shock. "This is an incredibly proud moment. Winning a WorldTour race, any race in my national colours is great.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ireland's Rory Townsend takes biggest win of his career by frustrating sprinters at Hamburg Classic
The 30-year-old, who rides forQ36.5 Pro Cycling team, was the only member from the day's breakaway to survive to the finish after 207km of racing and crossed the line a bike length clear of Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), who led the bunch home ahead of Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) in third. 'Winning a race, especially in the national colours, is a pretty proud moment for me,' he said after frustrating some of the best sprinters in the peloton. 'I think I'm still in shock, to be honest. But days like this is what inspired me about cycling, I love watching stuff like this … to actually be doing it is incredible.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Townsend, who has as reputation as a breakaway specialist, spent almost 200km of the race in a four-man break, which at one stage gained an advantage of five minutes but spent the final kilometres dangling seconds in front of a reduced peloton. As Townsend reached the final kilometre, along with his two remaining breakaway companions Johan Jacobs and Nelson Oliveira, with a 12-second advantage the Irishman put his head down for one last timely burst to stay clear to win his first World Tour race. Townsend won the Irish national championships for the second time in June but this win is his first victory on the continent since moving to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling team last year.
