A menace on the climbs on the domestic road racing scene last season, Killian O’Brien has put in a great climbing display in what was hist first outing for his new Czech team in Italy at the weekend.
The 18-year-old, who had been competing with Orwell Wheelers in Ireland, is now racing for Veleka Team; an international junior squad that will offer him plenty of European racing through the season.
O’Brien got those international racing plans underway yesterday when he put in the kind of effort that suggests he may be more than able to hold his own on the climbs racing in a European field in the months ahead.
Riding the 114km GP Marcello Falcone in Terracina, Italy, he pulled clear in a small group – of three riders – as the biggest climb of the day began in the back end of the race. He then dropped the remaining two riders with him, before cresting the large climb solo.
He took the Marco Pantani king of the mountains prize on the day, and though he led solo down the descent, with about 20km remaining to the finish, a number of the best-drilled teams got organised and closed him down.
After the Irish junior rider was caught, a four-man group went clear, containing: Luca Attolini (De Cecco Logistica Ambientale), Damiano Petri (Polisportiva Monsummanese), Leonardo Meccia (Vangi Il Pirata) and Michele Pascarella (Team Franco Ballerini).
They quickly established a winning gap of more than 30 seconds, with Attolini attacking the breakaway just before the finish to win solo from the three chasers. Petri then took the sprint for second place from Meccia, some 18 seconds after the winner had crossed the line.
Ireland’s O’Brien, after a confident display, finished in the main bunch 40 seconds down and sprinting for 5th place.
Marcello Falcone Grand Prix (104km)
1. Luca Attolini (De Cecco Environmental Logistics) 2.30’28”, average 41.471
2. Damiano Petri (Polisportiva Monsummanese) at 18”
3. Leonardo Meccia (Vangi Il Pirata)
4. Michele Pascarella (Team Franco Ballerini)
5 Andrea Stefanelli (Polisportiva Monsummanese) at 40″
6. Giacomo Sgherri (Vangi Il Pirata)
7. Alessio Stefanelli (Polisportiva Monsummanese)
8. Marco Merola (Polisportiva Monsummanese)
9. Matteo Gabelloni (Casano)
10. Federico Cozzani (Team Franco Ballerini)
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