Germany's Gerald Ciolek won today's Under-23 World Road Race Championships in Salzburg, Austria, easily proving quickest in the six-man sprint for the gold medal.
Romain Feillu (France) and Alexander Khatuntsey (Russian Federation) were second and third. The group had gone clear on the final lap, some 12 kilometres from the end of the 177.2 kilometre race.
Mark Cassidy was best of the four Irish riders who took part, coming home in the main bunch five seconds after Ciolek's break hit the line. He was 49th, with Daniel Martin seven seconds further back in 65th. Paidi O'Brien was 35 seconds down in 72nd, while Ryan Connor was 124th.
There had been hopes that the good form O'Brien and Martin showed recently could result in a high placing, but it was not to be.
'Mark Cassidy rode really well, never left the front all day which was plan,' said Ireland manager Frank Campbell. 'Daniel Martin and Paidi O'Brien were probably our main hopes but it didn't work out. The hill wasn't long enough to suit Daniel's climbing ability, making it hard for him to get clear. And Paídi just had a bad day; he said he was okay to sit in the bunch but he couldn't do anything more.'
He added: 'Ryan Connor did work early on, going off the front on the first few laps. The plan was to try to get Daniel clear on the last climb and if that didn't work, the guys would work for Paídi for the sprint. Daniel couldn't get away the last time up the hill, and Paídi actually got tailed off a bit. So that kind of put paid to the plan.'
Next up is Siobhan Dervan, Ireland's sole female representative at the worlds. She will line out in the 132.6km Women's Road Race which is currently underway. According to Campbell, this campaign is all about gaining experience.
'I would love to see her finish in the main bunch, and I think she is capable of that given some of the results she has had this season. I think she can be there or thereabouts. She is a bit nervous but much less so than last year, so I hope it will go well. Women's cycling has progressed a lot in the past few years and she is in the process of building experience, having done quite a few good races this season.'
The World Road Race Championships will reach its high point tomorrow with the running of the Elite Men's Road Race. Ireland will have three riders lining out against the world's best; David McCann has recovered from the illness which put paid to his hopes of a strong time trial earlier this week, and will be joined by two highly promising young riders, namely Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan.
