James McLaughlin heads the pack during a town criterium just south of La Roche-sur-Yon. (Picture by Ian McLaughlin, 0616814)
JAMES MCLAUGHLIN has added two highly impressive first-junior finishes in France to his ever-improving CV.
The 17-year-old Sarnian’s second race on French soil was a 110km road race just north of Nantes.
It was another gruelling race over a rolling 7km circuit. A field of 72 started the race with attacks coming constantly.
‘For the first few laps James “played safe” and held position in the middle of the third group,’ said his coach, Ann Bowditch.
‘After five of the 16 laps, he began to make his way up the field.
‘First, he broke away from the third group with two others, finding the second chasing group within a lap.
‘From there he joined others in an attempt to chase down the leading three riders.’
However, their lead proved insurmountable and the first three places went to those category one riders.
McLaughlin stayed within the chasing group, finishing in 19th position overall and first junior.
His third race in France was a town criterium, just south of La Roche-sur-Yon.
From a vague translation of the rules, all McLaughlin understood was that it was a race of two hours and the organisers would say when there were eight laps remaining.
‘James began the race steadily, staying safely in the main peleton, hoping that all would become clear,’ Bowditch said.
There were many attacks at the start with frequent single and group ones being made and then chased down.
It was not until the final 30 minutes of the race that things became more serious.
With four laps remaining, McLaughlin was holding second position, approximately 10 seconds behind a breakaway rider.
As he crossed the line with two laps to go, he was in fourth position but soon afterwards made an attack on the single climb of the course.
Much to the excitement of the French commentator, McLaughlin was now in the lead as he approached the final lap. His advantage at this stage was 10 seconds.
‘He managed to hold it right up to 200m from the finish, when the pride of the chasing Frenchmen proved too great and he finished in ninth position overall and again first junior,’ said Bowditch.
Article posted on 6th August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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