County Armagh is well known for his orchards, but lately also for his young international cyclists, and on Paddy's weekend it was proved again...After Sam Coleman (AS Villemur U19 FR) winning the Tour of Ards, Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B-Victorious U19) appears now as 3rd in the World Junior ranking after scoring UCI points in Kuurne (2nd) Nokere Koerse (15th) and 5th (GC) in the Guido Reybrouck cobble classic weekend in Damme near Bruges!!

“A classic does not arise from day to day. There is a long tradition behind it. The Guido Reybrouck Classic is therefore not just any cycling race for the city of Damme (Brugge) It grew from the idea of setting up a UCI cycling race in Damme. And he has become a fixture over the years. Thanks to the classic, young riders get the opportunity to prove themselves on flat terrain and on cobblestones. That is why this competition also arouses interest from foreign teams. We can be proud of that.
Our fellow citizen and former professional cyclist Guido Reybrouck appreciated that his name was given to the race, which is held in his backyard. But just like us, he also looks with admiration at the honors list with many names of professional cyclists. Here in Damme, where there is room and time to relax, young guys are trained to break through. I invite everyone to come and cheer them on. I also thank the organization. It is a fantastic group of volunteers. They ensure that the Guido Reybrouck Classic is not just another race in the list, but that this competition means added value for Damme” Joachim Coens Mayor City Damme

Dany B “One of my fathers favourite riders, Guido is as myself from the Bruges area, met him a few times when he had a Tyre service centre and carwash in Knokke after his pro-carreer… A real Flandrien when the Flanders riders ruled the world of cycling!!”
Tour de France: 6 individual stages (1965–1967, 1969)
Giro d’Italia: 3 individual stages (1968)
Vuelta a España: Points classification (1970), Combination classification (1970)
4 individual stages (1967, 1970)
One-day races and Classics: National Road Race Championships (1966)
Amstel Gold Race (1969) Paris Tours (1964-1966-1968) Kuurne- Brussel-Kuurne (1965)

Photos Martine Verfaillie & Kimberleec. or otherwise indicated, results courtesy of https://firstcycling.com/, with appreciation to all!

Saturday Stage 1 TT 16/03/2024
1st. Louis Chaleil (FRA) the 11,4km in 0:13:34
2nd. Jasper Schoofs (BEL) 0:06
3rd. Aldo Taillieu (BEL) 0:07
4th. Joeri Schaper (NED) 0:08
5th. Dahl Marius Innhaug (NOR) 0:12
6th. Damme Thibaut Van (BEL) 0:16
7th. Finlay Tarling (GBR) s.t.
8th. Seth Dunwoody (IRL) 0:17
9th. Corneel Vanslembrouck (BEL) 0:19
10th. Henry Hobbs (GBR) 0:20
58th. Conor Prendergast (IRL)1:05
97th. Tom Kinsella (IRL) 1:43 (photo below Martine)

Stage 2 – Damme – Damme – 121,9 km – Bunch sprint

Glenn Dunwoody (Seth’s dad) told us: “Seth had a tough day in Damme crashed hard early on stage 2, a cut knee and hip as result!! Spent 45k chasing back on his own between dropped groups. Tried to give it a go with 10K before finish got a gap with the Spanish ride who ended up winning the race, but he wouldn’t work with Seth to stay away. But happy enough in the end”
Conor Prendergast had a great ride in front bunch all day.
1st. Hector Alvarez (SPA) 2:46:05
2nd. Nejc Peterlin (SLO) s.t.
3rd. Matijs Van Strijthem (BEL) s.t.
4th. Aldo Taillieu (BEL) s.t.
5th. Roger Pareta (SPA) s.t.
21st. Seth Dunwoody (IRL) s.t.
49th. Conor Prendergast (IRL) s.t.
Tom Kinsella (IRL) DNF
General Classification after Stage 2 (Final GC)
1st. CHALEIL Louis Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 Team 02:59:39
2nd. TAILLIEU Aldo Mixte 1 + 07
3rd. SCHAPER Joeri Acrog-Tormans U19 + 08
4th. DAHL Marius Innhaug Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 Team + 12
5th. DUNWOODY Seth Cannibal B Victorious + 17
6th. VANSLEMBROUCK Corneel West Vlaanderen + 19
7th. HOBBS Henry Willebrord Wil Vooruit Juniors + 20
8th. FIETZKE Paul GRENKE – Auto Eder + 27
9th. BOUCHER Hugo Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 Team + 28
10th. VALJAVEC Erazem Acrog-Tormans U19 +29
31st. PRENDERGAST Conor Van Mossel Heist CT U19 + 01:05

Stage GC Youth Points Team
01 Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 Team 08:59:37
02 Acrog-Tormans U19 + 03
03 GRENKE – Auto Eder + 28
04 Cannibal B Victorious + 43
05 JEGG-DJR Academy U19 + 01:28
06 Fensham Howes Junior Race Team + 01:51
07 Spain + 01:53
08 Slovenia + 02:28
09 Tofauti Everyone Active + 02:29
10 West Vlaanderen + 02:36
11 Van Moer Logistics Cycling Team + 03:30
12 Gaverzicht Be Okay-Van Mossel + 10:50