Bad luck for Great Britain at 2014 Junior Paris-Roubaix
Misfortune and disappointment for Great Britain's riders at Junior Paris-Roubaix; Matt Bostock best placed in 29th behind winner Magnus Bak Klaris (Denmark)
Great Britain’s juniors endured a day of misfortune at Junior Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, with Matt Bostock taking the team’s best position in 29th behind Danish winner Magnus Bak Klaris.
The team’s lead riders Gabriel Cullaigh and James Shaw both suffered with punctures and crashes during the 110.8km event, run over the final 16 cobbled sectors used in the professional race, ensuring that there was no Brit left to fight it out in the lead group on the road.
“We were just unlucky today,” said junior coach and Olympic Development Programme [ODP] manager Matt Winston.
“Joe Evans punctured on the second sector of cobbles, got a wheel change, punctured again. James Shaw had three punctures and a crash. Gabz [Cullaigh] punctured on Carrefour de l’Arbre and we were stuck behind a crash and it took us three or four minutes to get to him.”
Great Britain has a strong track record in the race which is the opening round of the Junior Nations Cup. Past winners include Geraint Thomas and Andy Fenn, while Jon Dibben and Tao Geoghegan Hart both took third place in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Despite the disappointing result, Winston believes the race still provided a good learning experience for his young riders.
“I think they’ll take loads from today, how to deal with a puncture situation,” he said. “In a normal race they’d just get back in the convoy but this is completely different.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“It’s the experience that sometimes you have bad days on the bike, your legs might be good and you might be in a good position but other factors might influence the results.”
Great Britain’s ODP now head to a week long track training camp in Newport before the junior men race in the next Nations Cup rounds: the Tour of Istria in Croatia (April 25-27) and the Junior Peace Race in the Czech Republic (May 8-11).
Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas reflect on Paris-Roubaix
Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins comment on their seventh and ninth places in 2014 Paris-Roubaix
Niki Terpstra wins thrilling edition of Paris-Roubaix
Late solo move by Niki Terpstra nets him the biggest win of his career; Wiggins and Thomas finish in chase
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.
-
London e-bike sharing scheme investigated over 'free' claims
Forest offer "10 minutes free daily", but a charge is always incurred
By Adam Becket Published
-
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Solid performance, great mounting options and a respectable price point make the Blinder a great competitor for long nights this winter
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tweets of the week: Forget the cobbles, Paris-Roubaix is now all about goats and chicanes
It's a Hell of the North special in this week's social media round-up
By Tom Davidson Published
-
37psi in 32mm tyres: Why tyre pressures are getting lower at Paris-Roubaix
As wider tyres become commonplace, riders are running lower pressures at the Hell of the North
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I've never seen the cobbles as bad as this' - Inside one team's Paris-Roubaix recon
Tom Davidson joins British Continental team Lifeplus-Wahoo as they prepare for the most feared race of the season
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I never wanted to be known as the TikTok cyclist' - how Alison Jackson wrote her legacy at Paris-Roubaix
The Canadian tells Cycling Weekly how a day across the cobbles of northern France changed her career
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Seven tech insights spotted at Paris-Roubaix 2023
From tyre pressure systems to old-school chainrings, here's what Cycling Weekly saw at the race
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers rider runs half marathon after finishing Paris-Roubaix
Cameron Wurf is a triathlete, so it's unfair really. He is not the first cyclist to dabble with trainers, however
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Cobbles, barbecues, and what on earth is curry ketchup?
Strap in for our pre-Paris-Roubaix round-up of social media's finest
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Why goats are helping ready Paris-Roubaix's cobbles for spring
Cared for by a local charity, a herd of goats are enjoying their new duties in the Forest of Arenberg
By Tom Davidson Published