(Photo: Tour de Normandie)
Connor McConvey (Team 3M) was on the attack yesterday on the longest stage of the Tour de Normandie as he made it into the main break of the day along with Mads Christensen (Riwal Platform Cycling Team), Maximilian Schachmann (AWT-Greenway), Thomas Stewart (Madison Genesis) and Laurent Vanden Bak (Leopard Development).
It was cold and wet for the 207 kilometres between Colombelles (Calvadols) and Forges-les-Eaux (Seine-Maritime), and the five riders escaped 20 kilometres into the stages. They were able to stretch their lead to a maximum of 4’25” before being brought back by the peloton in the final hour of racing.
McConvey’s efforts have pushed him into second place in the mountains competition, just two points behind Schachmann.
The race ended in a bunch sprint which was won by 19 year-old Lucas Destang (Vendée U). There was a split in the bunch at the finish and yellow jersey holder Tom Bohli (BMC Development Team) was caught in the wrong half, as Thomas Scully (Madison Genesis) took over the lead.
All four Irish riders, McConvey, Dominic Jelfs (Madison Genesis) and the An Post-Chain Reaction duo of Conor Dunne and Ryan Mullen, were caught in the second half of the bunch finishing 13 seconds behind the leaders.
Wednesday’s stage between Duclair and Elbeuf-sur-Seine (166.5 km) is also expected to come down to a sprint.
Here are the highlights from the stage:
