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Video: Britain's Dan McLay takes stunning win in FranceDan McLay (source Fortuneo-Vital Concept).JPG

Video: Britain's Dan McLay takes stunning win in France

24-year-old from Leicester threads his way past rivals at GP de Denain
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Apr 14, 2016 19:46
7

British rider Dan McLay is building himself a bit of a reputation on the continent – last week he was 10th at the Scheldeprijs as Marcel Kittel beat Mark Cavendish for the win – and today the 24-year-old has landed his first victory of 2016 in some style.

Born in New Zealand but raised in Leicester, where his family moved when he was an infant, the Fortuneo-Vital Concept rider somehow threaded himself through rival sprinters to cross the line first, with this overhead video showing just how he did it.

McLay is a graduate of British Cycling’s Olympic Academy and in 2010 partnered Simon Yates, now with Orica-GreenEdge, to become junior world Madison champions.

He made his WorldTour debut with French Professional Continental outfit Bretagne- Séché Environnement last year at Paris-Nice, finishing eighth on Stage 5 ahead of riders such as the two top finishers at Milan-San Remo this year, FDJ’s Arnaud Demare and Team Sky’s Ben Swift.

Expect to hear a lot more about him – hopefully including  in July, when Fortuneo-Vital Concept, as Bretagne-Séché Environnement is now known, has a wildcard entry to the Tour de France.

Dan McLay
GP de Denain
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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7 comments

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robertoegg | 8 years ago
1 like

Turbo!!!!

 

Wonder what it's like to have that gas left at the end of 200k!

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Sanderstorm | 8 years ago
0 likes

The gaps were there, he took them, great riding.

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NeilG83 | 8 years ago
0 likes

I have watched this several times and can't decide whether it's one of the greatest pieces of bike handling I've ever seen or a crazy, dangerous sprint by McLay.

Avatar
theflatboy replied to NeilG83 | 8 years ago
1 like
NeilG83 wrote:

I have watched this several times and can't decide whether it's one of the greatest pieces of bike handling I've ever seen or a crazy, dangerous sprint by McLay.

 

Definitely the former (or rather definitely not the latter); hope that helps. 

Avatar
Ad Hynkel | 8 years ago
1 like

He said in his post race interview that it was a 20m sprint. He was being pulled through the massed ranks by the air around him until the last, but it took some skill and nerve to carve through... Some win. Well done, son. No rewards for bairns.

Avatar
nadsta | 8 years ago
0 likes

Skillz!

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peted76 | 8 years ago
2 likes

Wow ! That is nuts, he makes the others look like they are standing still, not going full pelt with 100meters to the line!!  He seems to be turning a much larger gear than everyone else, with ease...  

Bizzare, amazing but bizarre!

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