Doogan Races Home in Lead Group at Euro Road Championships

Donegal Rider in Medal Sprint in First International Championship Road Race

 

Ireland's Ciara Doogan produced a fine ride to finish 25th in the Women's Junior Road Race at the European Road Championships in Tartu, Estonia this morning.

 

Doogan from Donegal was in the lead group that sprinted in behind gold medal winner Nadia Quagliotto of Italy after 74.4km. The 17-year-old, competing in her first major international road race championships, stayed well to the front of the peloton throughout the six laps of a 12.4km that included two short, tough climbs of up to 10% gradient.

 

As the sole Irish representative in the race, Doogan watched the tactics played out by the big teams from the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy, the latter squad ultimately securing the top two positions. Doogan's objective was to stay well placed throughout and avoid the inevitable crashes and splits on the circuit's testing climbs. She was rarely further back than the top 30 positions and usually in the top 15 from a field of 85 riders which signed on for the early morning start.

 

38 riders were still in contention as the riders reassembled after the final climb with Doogan watching as the bunch chased down Quaggliotto and her breakaway companion Karina Kasenova of Russia. The duo were caught on the line but held on for first and third respectively, with Doogan comfortably in the group in 25th place.

 

Afterwards her coach Frank O'Leary expressed his delight at the strength and resilience shown by the championship novice. “Ciara rode an excellent race,” said O’Leary. “She made her way to the front on the first lap and remained near the front throughout. We knew that the Italians and the Dutch would be the strongest teams and so it proved that tactics from the strong nations won the day. 

 “Ciara has had a great start to her cycling career at this level with very competitive performances at both track and road European championships. Only turned 17, she is showing great potential for the future.”

 

For full results of the Women's Junior Road Race see: http://www.championchip.ee/ftp/liveresults/2015/150808_U20W/

 

Next in action for the Irish team are the Men's Junior selection of Simon Tuomey, Michael O'Loughlin and Darragh O'Mahoney whose European Championship Road Race begins at 8am Irish time tomorrow, Sunday.

 

Later in the day U23 riders Ryan Mullen, Eddie Dunbar, Seán McKenna and Daniel Stewart take to the startline for their 160km road race which is due to commence at 12pm, midday, Irish time.

 

For full results and details of live streaming of events see the event website: http://www.roadec2015.ee/

 

Irish Team for 2015 European Road Championships, Tartu, Estonia


Women's Junior
Ciara Doogan - Time Trial and Road Race

Men's U23
Ryan Mullen - Time Trial and Road Race
Eddie Dunbar - Time Trial and Road Race
Daniel Stewart - Road Race
Seán McKenna - Road Race

Men's Junior 
Darragh O'Mahoney - Road Race
Michael O'Loughlin - Time Trial and Road Race
Simon Tuomey - Time Trial and Road Race 

 

Support Team

Neil Martin (DS)
Kurt Bogaerts (DS)
Frank O’Leary (Coach)
Stacey Kelly (Soigneur)
Michel Bogaerts (Mechanic)

-ends-