Dillon Corkery is playing a vital supporting role as teammate Frits Biesterbos takes the red jersey at the Tour of Guangxi, while fellow Irishman Jamie Meehan celebrates his Cofidis teammate’s stage win and prepares for the more elevated final stages.
Irish interest at the Tour of Guangxi is running high after three stages, with Dillon Corkery and Team Picnic PostNL currently in the driving seat.
The Cork rider has been a consistent presence in the early days of the race as his Dutch teammate Frits Biesterbos seized the overall lead. Biesterbos won Stage 2 and finished second on Stage 3 behind Milan Fretin, moving into the red jersey on equal time with Paul Magnier.
To be honest, I think I really needed it too. Just to be part of a winning team again. It’s an experience I haven’t had in a really long time.
Yeah, I really, really enjoyed that now today.
– Dillon Corkery, Team Picnic PostNL
Corkery has put in solid work to help protect the team’s position, finishing safely in the bunch and contributing to the collective effort that has given Team Picnic PostNL a surprise GC advantage at the final WorldTour stage race of the season.
Corkery’s Team Role
Coming off a solid ride at the Tour de Langkawi earlier this month, Corkery has adapted well to the Chinese heat and the demands of WorldTour racing in his first full season with Picnic PostNL. The opening stages have favoured the sprinters, and the Irishman’s ability to stay attentive and work for the team has been important as Biesterbos now finds himself in an unexpected leadership position.
The next two stages will be critical for the Dutch squad. Stage 4 from Bama to Tian’e and Stage 5 from Jinchengjiang to Yizhou both feature significant climbing. Corkery will be expected to help control the race and protect Biesterbos as the pure climbers begin to show their hand.
Meehan Celebrates Teammate Success
Alongside Corkery, Jamie Meehan, Cofidis, is Ireland’s other interest in the race. The young Donegal climber was able to celebrate a stage victory for his teammate Milan Fretin on Stage 3 and has stayed out of trouble in the opening sprints.
Clearly targeting the harder days ahead after a breakthrough season that included a Tour de l’Ain podium, fourth overall in Slovakia, and of course his memorable breakaway at the World Championships in Montréal, Meehan has the engine to feature when the road goes uphill.
Everything Points to Nongla on Sunday
The race will be decided on Stage 6, the 165.8 km journey from Yizhou to the Nongla Scenic Spot. The final Category 1 climb is short but steep, with gradients that can exceed 14% in the last kilometre. It is a pure selection climb that has decided the Tour of Guangxi many times before.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor Team Picnic PostNL, the priority will be keeping Biesterbos in contention for as long as possible, with Corkery likely to be one of the last domestiques supporting the leader. They will also have the Robbe Dhondt card to play as the road rises.
For Meehan, it will be no surprise to see him battling out the GC on the final mountain stage to Nongla Scenic Spot Cat 1 climb on Sunday if he can stay with the best climbers.
Irish Duo in Focus
With three days remaining, the spotlight sits firmly on the two Irish riders from an Irish perspective. Corkery’s work in service of the Red Jersey (race leader) gives Team Picnic PostNL a genuine chance of a high overall placing, while Meehan carries personal GC ambitions of his own. Both will be central to the their teams’ ambitions as the Tour of Guangxi reaches its mountainous climax.
Much to look forward to in the coming days. Go n-éirí go geal leo!
