Jon Dibben takes second place in the U23 Tour of Flanders
The Team Wiggins rider, competing in Team GB colours, grabbed the second step on the podium of the U23 Tour of Flanders
Jon Dibben took Great Britain’s best ever result in the U23 Tour of Flanders with second place from a reduced sprint in Oudenaarde.
The 22 year-old points race world champion jumped across to a lead group of riders inside the closing kilometres of the 167km race but was beaten by Slovenia’s David Per to the line.
Gabriel Cullaigh finished in the chasing bunch in 19th while Tao Geoghegan Hart, who won the Trofeo Piva in Italy last weekend, finished in the same group to take 22nd.
“It was good race, I’m happy personally but the way the boys worked for me today, I should have won,” Dibben told Cycling Weekly.
“There was a group of five that went away over the last climb with a lap to go and they were still just away and Tao pretty much did the last lap on the front for me, and I sat behind him.
“We caught half of it on the last climb and some just stayed away. It was only about 50 metres to the group, I hit out with three kilometres to go, me and a French lad [Corentin Ermenault, third] got across with about 200m to go. I tried to get out of the saddle but he [Per] came round.”
Behind the scenes with Team Wiggins
The U23 Tour of Flanders is run over many of the same roads in the Flemish Ardennes as those in last weekend's elite races, however this year the event did not include any of the region's iconic cobbled climbs.
The race is an important augur for future talent, with recent winners including current professional riders Salvatore Puccio (2011, Sky), Rick Zabel (2013, BMC) and Dylan Groenewegen (2014, LottoNL-Jumbo).
The result continues a rich vein of form for Dibben, who won the time trial stage of the Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux and finished second overall on April 3 after winning his first world title on the track in early March.
The Wiggins trade team rider will line up in GB colours at next weekend’s ZLM Tour U23 race in the Netherlands before racing the Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of California.
“I’m feeling really good, I think I’m going the best I’ve ever gone,” Dibben added.
“After the track worlds I didn’t have too much of a break, I kept pedalling away, thinking of this and Triptyque and the early season U23 races.”
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
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.
-
Van der Poel the super-domestique and Matthews the nearly man: Five things we learned from Milano-San Remo 2024
From Philipsen’s first Monument victory to Pogačar’s Poggio attacks, this year’s edition of La Classicissima left us with a lot of talking points
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
My friend had warm urine squirted in his ear on the Alpe d’Huez - and it impresses people more than my national titles
When it comes to impressing people with his cycling exploits, Cycling Weekly's columnist finds that anecdotes trump achievements every time
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
'My legs are screaming' - 17-year-old stuns with two gold medals at the British Track Championships
Sam Fisher enjoyed a dream day with victories in the team pursuit and scratch race
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I'm in shock' - 16-year-old school student wins medal at British Track Championships
A-Level student Henry Hobbs rode a blistering kilometre time trial to earn a spot on the podium
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Olympic hopeful Will Perrett dazzles at British Track Championships
27-year-old gains three laps to win points race in style, on a night when para-cycling national records tumbled
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Wout van Aert and Visma-Lease a Bike left out of pocket by Tour of Britain organiser's collapse
Prize money for 2023 race unpaid, riders union says national federation must ‘bear the debts’ of previous organiser, SweetSpot
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tour of Britain and Women's Tour future guaranteed by British Cycling, but women's race in doubt for 2024
National federation committed to ensuring men's and women’s races take place this year but CEO admits it is in a ‘race against the clock’ to put on women's event
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Great Britain collect best ever medal tally at ‘fantastic’ European Track Championships
Performance director Stephen Park hails squad after claiming 14 medals
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tour of Flanders, Giro d'Italia, Paris-Roubaix Femmes: Cycling Weekly's races of the year for 2023
Our writers pick their best moments from an enthralling 2023, what do you think?
By Adam Becket Published
-
British National Road and Circuit Series bolstered with more races for 2024
British Cycling extends domestic racing calendars after Road Series shrunk this season
By Tom Davidson Published